China Southern Airlines launched a new air route on June 18, 2019. The new Guangzhou-Urumqi-Vienna flight departs every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The new route not only connects the three major aviation hubs of Guangzhou, Urumqi and Vienna, but also joins the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Silk Road Economic Belt, and the heartland of the European Union through airways .

The flight is operated by the Dreamliner B787. The Guangzhou-Urumqi-Vienna route provides travel options of greater convenience for passengers from China and Austria as it is the only flight between Guangdong and Austria via Xinjiang.

In April 2018, China and Austria agreed to establish a Sino-Austrian strategic partnership and signed 11 intergovernmental cooperation documents in tech innovation and Belt and Road construction, creating more opportunities for further cultural and economic links between the two countries.

In 2018, nearly a million Chinese tourists visited Austria. And in the past ten years, the number of Chinese tourists to Austria has grown sixfold.

China Southern is headquartered in Guangzhou and has a fleet of more than 840 aircraft. In 2018, the passenger traffic reached 140 million passengers. Currently the airline operates more than 3000 flights to over 40 countries and 224 destinations on a daily basis.

(Cover: The first airliner flying the  Guangzhou-Urumqi-Vienna route arrived at Vienna Airport. /Photo by China Southern Airlines)