Perth-Guangzhou-Beijing flights: now on China Southern

China Southern is now flying business travellers directly from Perth to Guangzhou and Beijing, with this week's debut of flights from WA on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The Guangzhou-based airline, the largest airline in Asia and the fifth-largest in the world, uses Airbus A330-300 planes on the route.

Perth airport rolled out a double water-cannon welcome for China Southern's first flight to WA.

In addition to heading to Guangzhou, passengers can continue on to Beijing aboard the direct flight.

Not 100% sure about the difference is between nonstop and direct flights? Check out our handy primer explaining how nonstops and direct flights differ, and which one you should pick. 

The A330s have China Southern's new first and business class seats installed in the pointy end, and you'll see those international standard seats all the way to Beijing: another advantage of the direct flight.

In business class you'll find a 1.9m angled-flat bed in a 2-2-2 arrangement.

First class class is a more spacious 1-2-1 arrangement, but at the back of the plane is the usual Airbus 2-4-2 economy class cabin layout.

Linking into Perth is a key business route for China, with Western Australia's Deputy Premier Kim Hames highlighting that WA contributes 70% of Australia's Chinese exports, with an impressive 33% of existing passengers from Perth to China travelling on business.

China Southern now flies from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to its hub in Guangzhou, just over 100 km from Hong Kong. Guangzhou is, of course, a key business class destination in its own right, and as China's second-busiest airport it has extensive connections to other Chinese cities.

Since China Southern is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, travellers can earn and burn frequent flyer miles across the SkyTeam network -- although we're yet to see an Australian-based SkyTeam member airline. 

With Perth Airport already undergoing a three-year $515 million overhaul, China Southern could eventually use its Airbus A380 superjumbos on the route, since the airport upgrades will include A380-capable gates. 

Pictures: China Southern, Mach Reems

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.