China Southern Airlines
Airline Statistics
1152
Active Routes17029
Flight Observations191
Unique Destinations219
Origin Airports1324
Avg Route Distance (mi)8946
Longest Route (mi)0
Domestic Routes100
International RoutesAbout China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines (ICAO: CSN) is a prominent carrier headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, recognized as one of the country's "Big Three" airlines.
China Southern Airlines was established on July 1, 1988, as a result of the Chinese government's initiative to decentralize the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and liberalize the aviation market. The airline commenced its first commercial operations under its own branding in February 1991. Over the years, it expanded significantly, absorbing several domestic airlines such as Zhongyuan Airlines, China Northern Airlines, and Xinjiang Airlines, which considerably increased its fleet and passenger capacity.
The airline's main operational hubs are Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), which serve as crucial gateways for its extensive network. Secondary hubs include Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport, and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. China Southern operates a modern and diverse fleet of over 900 passenger and cargo aircraft. This includes various models from Boeing (787, 777, 737 series) and Airbus (A350, A330, A320 series), as well as COMAC's C909 and C919. The airline phased out its Airbus A380s in November 2022.
China Southern boasts an extensive route network, encompassing a strong domestic presence within China and international services radiating across Asia, Europe, America, Oceania, and Africa, covering more than 200 destinations in over 35 countries worldwide. The airline is particularly known for its "Canton Route" strategy, which establishes Guangzhou as a major international air hub connecting China with Oceania and Southeast Asia, and further bridging Europe and Australia. While it was a member of the SkyTeam alliance from 2007 to 2019, China Southern has since withdrawn and currently operates an individual partnership network, notably with American Airlines. The airline offers several cabin classes, including Economy, Premium Economy, Business (featuring flatbed seats on some wide-body aircraft), and Deluxe First. Its frequent flyer program is known as the Sky Pearl Club, which boasts over 100 million members. Notable services include "China Southern e-Travel," "Premium Services," "Luggage Priority," "Seamless Transit," "360-Degree In-Flight Service," and "Dine with China Southern."
Traveler Reviews
Recent traveler reviews and experiences with China Southern Airlines present a mixed but generally positive picture, especially concerning value for money.
What Travelers Love:
- Attentive and friendly crew: Many passengers frequently commend the cabin crew for being professional, friendly, and efficient with meal and drink services.
- Value for money/competitive fares: China Southern is often highlighted as a great option for budget-conscious travelers, providing a full-service experience at competitive prices, particularly for long-haul routes.
- Comfortable seating: While experiences vary, some travelers found the seats, even in economy, to be surprisingly spacious and comfortable. Business class flatbed seats are also highly appreciated.
- Good food: In-flight meals are often described as tasty, filling, and exceeding expectations for airline food, sometimes incorporating local cuisine.
- Efficiency and timeliness: Several reviews mention smooth check-in processes and flights departing and arriving on schedule, occasionally even early.
Common Complaints:
- Poor customer service/issue resolution: A significant number of complaints revolve around a lack of customer support, particularly when dealing with flight delays, cancellations, itinerary changes, or lost baggage. Passengers report unhelpful staff and difficulties in getting issues resolved or receiving compensation.
- Dated in-flight entertainment/limited English options: Some aircraft are noted to have older seat-back entertainment systems, and the content selection, especially Western movies, can be limited or outdated.
- Communication barriers: There are reports of challenges in communicating with ground staff and cabin crew due to limited English proficiency.
- Cramped cabin/seat pitch: While some found seating comfortable, others on certain aircraft configurations experienced small or tightly packed seats, particularly in economy.
- Unprofessional ground staff/check-in issues: Long queues at check-in and unhelpful or rude ground staff have been cited as negative experiences.
Overall, China Southern Airlines is generally perceived as a cost-effective airline offering a satisfactory flying experience with decent in-flight amenities and service. However, the customer support system, particularly for handling irregular operations and complex issues, appears to be a consistent pain point for many international travelers.
Safety Information
China Southern Airlines has a strong commitment to safety and an commendable safety record. The airline has maintained over 30 million consecutive hours of safe flight operation. According to AirSafe, the last significant incident involving a passenger fatality was in 1997. More recent minor incidents have been reported, including a Boeing 737-800 colliding with an NDB antenna on approach in Wuhan in 2013, a rejected takeoff due to engine fire indications in Zhuhai in 2019, an Airbus A321 experiencing a fuel emergency in Phuket and Penang in 2019, an Airbus A320 having a nose gear problem on landing in Shijiazhuang in 2019, and an Airbus A319 rejecting takeoff due to engine failure in Lijang in 2022.
The airline holds several significant safety recognitions. In 2023, China Southern Airlines became the first in the industry to receive the "Three-Star Flight Safety Diamond Award" from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It also received a Seven-Star rating, the highest possible, for safety from the independent international airline rating website AirlineRatings.com in 2021. Earlier, the airline was honored with the Four-Star Flight Safety Award by the CAAC in 2007 for achieving four million safely-flown hours and the Diamond Flight Safety Award by CAAC in 2012.
China Southern Airlines operates a modern fleet and has a reputation for diligent maintenance, partly supported by its joint venture, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company (GAMECO). The airline has also partnered with US counterparts to enhance staff training and aircraft maintenance quality, further aligning with international standards. Overall, available data indicates that China Southern Airlines maintains a robust safety assessment, comparable to other major international carriers, consistently meeting international safety standards.
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
Top Destinations
Top Origin Airports
Top Border Crossing Flights
Longest Routes
Shortest Routes
All Routes
1152 Total Routes| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTN → URC |
Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
|
198 | 621 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| KHG → URC |
Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
|
192 | 663 mi | A320 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| AKU → URC |
Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
|
153 | 409 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| YIW → CAN |
Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l
Guangzhou
|
150 | 586 mi | C09 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| PKX → SZX |
Shenzhen Bao'an Int'l
Shenzhen
|
132 | 1177 mi | A321 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| CGO → CAN |
Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l
Guangzhou
|
118 | 770 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| CAN → PKX |
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing
|
116 | 1130 mi | A21N | Jan 29, 2026 |
| PVG → LAX |
Los Angeles Intl
Los Angeles
|
111 | 6498 mi | B77L | Jan 28, 2026 |
| CAN → ANC |
Anchorage Intl
Anchorage
|
109 | 5047 mi | B77L | Jan 28, 2026 |
| XUZ → CAN |
Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l
Guangzhou
|
102 | 789 mi | A20N | Jan 29, 2026 |
| PVG → ANC |
Anchorage Intl
Anchorage
|
99 | 4464 mi | B77L | Jan 27, 2026 |
| AAT → URC |
Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
|
94 | 267 mi | A320 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| ORD → PVG |
Shanghai Pudong Int'l
Shanghai
|
94 | 7051 mi | B77L | Jan 13, 2026 |
| CAN → SHA |
Shanghai Hongqiao Int'l
Shanghai
|
90 | 731 mi | B77W | Jan 29, 2026 |
| PKX → CSX |
Changsha Huanghua Int'l
Changsha
|
87 | 804 mi | A321 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| PKX → DLC |
Dalian Zhoushuizi Int'l
Dalian
|
85 | 277 mi | A321 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| PKX → HRB |
Harbin Taiping Int'l
Harbin
|
84 | 655 mi | A320 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| YIN → URC |
Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
|
82 | 306 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| SZX → SHA |
Shanghai Hongqiao Int'l
Shanghai
|
82 | 752 mi | A321 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| TFU → CSX |
Changsha Huanghua Int'l
Changsha
|
80 | 549 mi | A321 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| YNZ → SZX |
Shenzhen Bao'an Int'l
Shenzhen
|
80 | 841 mi | A321 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| SWA → NKG |
Nanjing Lukou Int'l
Nanjing
|
75 | 585 mi | C09 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| HFE → CAN |
Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l
Guangzhou
|
75 | 636 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| HMI → CGO |
Zhengzhou Xinzheng Int'l
Zhengzhou
|
74 | 1227 mi | B738 | Jan 27, 2026 |
| CZX → SZX |
Shenzhen Bao'an Int'l
Shenzhen
|
72 | 739 mi | A321 | Jan 29, 2026 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.
Last Update: Jan 30, 2026 09:02
Coverage: Observed routes only