China Southern Airlines Sets Sights on Mexico with Direct Flight Launch

Monday, March 11, 2024

China Southern Airlines to launch direct flights to Mexico City, highlighting Mexico’s key role in China’s Americas expansion amid trade shifts.

China Southern Airlines Co., headquartered in Guangzhou, is set to launch its inaugural direct flights to Mexico City on April 17, marking the company’s first nonstop operation to Mexico. This initiative underlines Mexico’s burgeoning role as a pivotal access point to the Americas for China, which ranks as the global economy’s runner-up.

This new route, featuring bi-weekly flights originating from Shenzhen, located in China’s southern region, was disclosed by an insider, corroborating prior coverage by local press.

Spanning over 16 hours and covering a distance of 14,147 kilometers (8,790 miles), this flight is slated to be China’s longest, ranking it among the globe’s most extended regular flight paths. This ambitious project moves forward notwithstanding the logistical hurdles presented by distance and geography, necessitating a stopover for the return leg. This development mirrors Mexico’s allure for Chinese enterprises aiming to navigate the geopolitical rifts between Beijing and Washington.

Companies supplying Tesla Inc., such as BYD Co., a leader in electric vehicles, have recently established manufacturing operations in Mexico. Concurrently, China has been increasing its exports to this Latin American nation, a trend that gained momentum during the pandemic.

In 2022, China’s direct investment in Mexico soared to a record high of $587 million, as reported by Mexico’s Economic Secretary. Bilateral trade between the two countries surged by 38% over the last four years, as per data from the Bank of Mexico, covering the period up to November 2023 compared to the same span in 2019.

Chinese tourism to Mexico has witnessed a significant recovery in 2023, with 161,300 visitors, nearly reaching the figures seen before the pandemic, according to statistics from the Mexican government.

Despite the flourishing commercial ties, the pandemic led to a suspension of direct flights, exacerbated by the challenges posed by Mexico City’s elevation, which limits the power engines can generate for takeoff on long-haul flights.

China Southern’s new route will include a stop in Tijuana during the return journey to Asia, as mentioned in reports by local media.

The strained Sino-American relations have also affected the resumption of direct flights to the U.S., with the current cap at 100 weekly flights, a reduction from the 340 available pre-pandemic. American airlines, moreover, face the added challenge of circumventing airspace banned by Russia.

Post-pandemic, Chinese airlines have prioritized reestablishing connections with countries open to trade. In a bid to foster broader economic collaboration, Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated for enhanced trade relations with Mexico in sectors including finance and emerging technologies like electric vehicles in November.

Opting for Shenzhen over Beijing and Shanghai, China Southern’s new flight path leverages the city’s status as a vibrant center for technology and manufacturing. The city houses BYD, which eyes Mexico and the broader region as key to its export strategy. Mexico serves as an ideal platform for Chinese automakers to showcase their electric vehicles, testing international markets’ reception to their innovative, cost-effective, and technologically advanced products.

Manufacturers such as Ningbo Tuopu Group Co. and Shanghai Bayon Precision Automobile Component Co., suppliers to Tesla now operating in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, exemplify this trend.

The strengthening ties between China and Mexico have raised concerns in Washington, where there’s an ongoing effort to protect the domestic EV market from more affordable Chinese imports. With potential increases in U.S. tariffs on Chinese EVs and heightened scrutiny over cybersecurity risks associated with internet-connected vehicles, the geopolitical tensions over trade and technology continue to escalate.

« Back to Page

• Hong Kong International Airport Clinches Top Honor at 2024 TTG China Travel Awards

• Here’s what you need to know how Chinese tourists are exploring global destinations

• South China’s Guangdong province has issued the highest-level rainstorm warning

• Decline in Indian tourists visiting Maldives this year

• Emirates Airlines suspends transit flyer check-in today