CHINA Southern Airlines is increasing its number of flights for the Penang-Guangzhou route and vice versa from four per week to daily flights, effective April 1.

Its general manager Terry Deng told a press conference yesterday that the rationale for increasing the number of flights was because of the region’s improved economy.

“We believe it is possible now to increase passenger traffic to Penang from Guangzhou and vice versa. Our move will also enable us to attract more passengers from Indonesia and Thailand,” he said.

Also present at the press conference were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law.

Deng said the airline was targeting to fly 2,000 passengers daily on the Penang-Guangzhou route, compared to over 1,000 presently.

He also said the new arrival time in Penang, starting next month, would be 8.35pm instead of the present 11pm.

“The change is to allow our passengers time to travel out of Penang.

“The new arrival time in Guangzhou is being shifted to 12.55pm instead of noon presently to cut short the transit time for our passengers,” he said.

The Star Online

Friday March 12, 2010