Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines<600029><1055>, the country's largest carrier by fleet size, opened a new flight on Friday to connect Guiyang, the capital city of China's southwest Guizhou Province with Seoul of the Republic of Korea (POK).

China Southern uses a Boeing 737 aircraft for the newly-launched flight twice a week. The flight starts at 6 pm on Tuesday and Friday from Guiyang Longdongbao Internatiopnal Airport, and returns from Seoul at 9:55 pm the same days. Total travel time from Guiyang to Seoul would be approximately three hours and 20 minutes.

China Southern has decided to open the Beijing-London route in the fourth quarter this year and still awaits the regulatory approval. It plans to launch about eight international routes this year, in a bid to boost its global network and revenue.

At present, profit from the company's overseas routes accounts for nearly 19% of its total income, and the company targets to promote the figure to 25% or 30% in five years, according to Liu Shaoyong, Chairman of China Southern.