At 11:10 AM on December 2nd, China Southern Airlines flight CZ377, carrying 274 passengers, successfully took off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, bound for Madrid, the capital of Spain, marking the official opening of the Guangzhou-Madrid direct flight route. As the first direct flight route connecting Guangzhou to the Iberian Peninsula, this not only fills the gap in direct air travel between the two cities and builds a new air bridge between China and Europe, but also represents another significant step by China Southern Airlines in serving the high-level opening-up of the new era.
Wang Sheng, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Ai Mingrui, Consul General of Spain in Guangzhou, and Ma Xulun, Chairman of China Southern Airlines Group, attended the inaugural flight send-off ceremony. At the ceremony, Zeng Yongchao, Deputy General Manager of China Southern Airlines Group, stated, "The opening of the Guangzhou-Madrid direct flight route today is not only a new air corridor, but also an important step for us to leverage the advantages of Guangzhou's hub network and serve the country's high-level opening-up. China Southern will always uphold its friendly and meticulous service philosophy, allowing global passengers to enjoy efficient and convenient transfer services through the Guangzhou hub, reaching destinations all over the world." The route is operated by a Boeing 787 aircraft, with three flights per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays). The outbound flight CZ377 departs Guangzhou at 10:50 AM Beijing time and arrives in Madrid at 6:30 PM local time, with a flight time of approximately 14 hours. The return flight CZ378 departs Madrid at 8:30 PM local time and arrives in Guangzhou at 4:40 PM Beijing time the following day, with a flight time of approximately 13 hours.
Spain boasts a long history, rich culture, and abundant tourism resources, making it one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, ranking among the top in the world in terms of tourist arrivals. The capital, Madrid, is not only a global tourist destination and the headquarters of the United Nations Tourism Organization, but also a major European aviation hub and a vital gateway connecting Europe and Latin America. As the fourth largest economy in the EU, Spain is an important trading partner of China within the EU, while China is Spain's largest trading partner outside the EU. 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and the opening of this route will provide strong transportation support for deepening practical cooperation in various fields such as trade, science and technology, culture, and education.
Prior to the inaugural flight, China Southern Airlines' flight crew made thorough preparations in cross-regional coordination, weather response, and precise control, ensuring the success of the flight with absolute focus on flight standards and safe operations. The cabin decoration, themed "Red Charm of Lingnan, Connected by the Silk Road," showcases traditional Lingnan culture such as lion dance and Cantonese opera, while also conveying the beautiful meaning of cultural integration and friendly exchange between China and Spain. The meal design fully considers the characteristics of winter health preservation, with China Southern Airlines carefully preparing nourishing drinks and warming winter foods to provide passengers with a more comfortable flight experience. In addition, inaugural flight-themed activities will be held on board, adding color to the Guangzhou-Madrid inaugural flight through fun quizzes and other activities.
China Southern Airlines is also launching a series of convenient transfer services. Passengers traveling to and from Madrid from Kunming, Haikou, Shantou, and other cities can enjoy two-way connections within 3 hours at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Overnight transit passengers meeting the requirements for designated routes, cabin classes, and transit times can enjoy complimentary hotel accommodation (including breakfast) and airport transfer services provided by China Southern Airlines. Furthermore, leveraging the route network of its partner Iberia, passengers can conveniently transit through Madrid to travel to Latin American countries such as Brazil and Argentina.
To ensure the safe, stable, efficient, and smooth operation of the route, China Southern Airlines' ground service department coordinated with multiple parties and made advance preparations. They liaised with the Madrid terminal and airport joint inspection departments in advance to grasp route dynamics and passenger support information. Simultaneously, they conducted comprehensive business training for all staff based on the characteristics of the route to ensure smooth check-in, visa verification, and other business processes.
On the inaugural flight day, China Southern Airlines opened a check-in counter for the Madrid inaugural flight at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, deployed exclusive flight information displays for the inaugural flight, and increased staff guidance in key areas such as check-in, security check, and border control, providing friendly and meticulous service to ensure passengers enjoy a pleasant flight!