China Southern Airlines and Air Serbia sign Memorandum of Understanding, exploring more opportunities for cooperation

Recently, China Southern Airlines Company Limited (hereafter referred to as "China Southern") and Air Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Belgrade, Serbia. The MOU aims to deepen the partnership and explore broader areas of cooperation between the two airlines, in a bid to meet the growing travel demand of passengers, support the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhance global air connectivity.

(Photo: China Southern Airlines)

According to the MOU, China Southern and Air Serbia will further enhance the complementarity of their global route networks by expanding interline cooperation and establishing code-sharing, thus providing passengers with more diverse travel options. Additionally, the two airlines will offer each other opportunities for cooperation in air cargo and third-party services, strengthening synergies globally and jointly building international aviation hubs at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. This cooperation aims to provide passengers with hassle-free, convenient, and seamless services of enhanced quality.

"China Southern Airlines has recently launched a new route from Guangzhou to Belgrade at the end of September, which will significantly enhance connectivity between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding marks a key step in China Southern Airlines' commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative and a new starting point for its cooperation with Air Serbia. Looking ahead, China Southern Airlines and Air Serbia will work closely together to provide passengers with a more seamless and exceptional customer experience," said Mr. Han Wensheng, President of China Southern Air Holding Company Limited.

"Air Serbia's strategic plans are closely linked with the development of operations to the People's Republic of China. For almost two years, we have been successfully operating flights to Tianjin, and on 30 September, for the first time, we are introducing a direct service between Belgrade and Guangzhou, while by the end of 2024, we also plan to commence a service to Shanghai. The Memorandum of Understanding signed with China Southern Airlines represents an important step in strengthening the relationship between our companies, as well as between our countries. Along with expanding commercial cooperation, which ensures even better connectivity between Serbia and China and opens up new opportunities for passengers, we are also considering a joint venture. Opportunities lie ahead, and we will strive to make the most of them wisely," said Jiri Marek, CEO of Air Serbia.

(Photo: Eastbrook)

China Southern opened a direct air service from Guangzhou to Belgrade on September 25, operated every Wednesday and Sunday with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The outbound flight number is CZ667, departing from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 01:55 Beijing time, with a flight time of approximately 12 hours and 5 minutes, arriving at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport at 08:00 local time. The return flight, CZ668, departs from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport at 11:00 local time, with a flight time of approximately 11 hours. It arrives at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 04:00 Beijing time the next day. Air Serbia has operated a direct air service from Belgrade to Guangzhou since September 30. The flight is served by an Airbus A330-200, departing from Belgrade to Guangzhou at 00:20 every Monday and Friday. The return flight departs from Guangzhou to Belgrade at 22:10 on Monday and Friday.

(cnbayarea.org.cn & GDToday)