Daily direct flights between China, NZ begin

China Southern Airlines has stepped up its flights between Guangzhou and Auckland since August, to a daily schedule. Photo / Natalie Slade

The first daily direct flights between mainland China and New Zealand began today.

China Southern Airlines, which has been operating three flights a week between Guangzhou and Auckland since August, has stepped up its flights to a daily schedule.

The extra flights would allow for an additional 90,000 passengers a year and were estimated to give New Zealand's tourism sector a $100 million boost.

Guangzhou is China's third-biggest city, situated in the country's south - a region with a $165.2 billion GDP economy.

New Zealand's trade commissioner in Guangzhou, Pat English, said direct daily flights would increase the number of trade opportunities in China available to New Zealand businesses.

"Southern China has historically had strong links with New Zealand, however it's only been in recent years that the economic return from these links are having an increasing impact.

"China is now New Zealand's second largest trading partner and we hope to double two-way trade with China to $20b by 2015."

The first inbound daily direct flight is scheduled to arrive in Auckland at 5pm today and the first outbound flight would depart 11pm.