China Southern Airlines has announced free overnight transit accommodation in Guangzhou and Shenzhen for eligible Australian passengers.
From January 1 through June 30, 2026, qualifying passengers transiting through Guangzhou or Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX) will receive complimentary accommodation for one night, including breakfast and transportation between the terminal and hotel, according to the airline.
The offering comes as the airline expands its Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Guangzhou Airport (CAN) service to three daily flights year-round, a record frequency for the route.
This represents the highest frequency ever on the route and establishes Sydney Airport as the airline’s largest market in Oceania.
Eligibility and booking
The free transit accommodation applies to passengers with confirmed seats on international and regional China Southern flights, including tickets to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The policy covers same-day or overnight transits, provided specific conditions are met.
According to the airline’s product usage rules, multiple flight segments must be issued under the same booking code with confirmed seats. The policy also applies to interline tickets redeemed with mileage.
Transfer time requirements vary depending on the connection type. For overnight transfers, the transit time must be between 6 and 30 hours for domestic-to-international or regional flights. For same-day transfers, the window extends to between 6 and 240 hours for international or regional mutual transfer flights, with the first flight required to arrive at the transit point between midnight and 8:00 AM.
Passengers who do not meet the free accommodation criteria can book rooms at China Southern Airlines Pearl Hotel, a hotel brand operated by China Southern Airlines Group, at preferential rates, subject to availability.
China Southern now offers online booking for free transit accommodation for passengers transiting through Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Travelers can book accommodations directly through the airline’s official website
Expanded Sydney service
The accommodation initiative supports China Southern’s expanded Sydney operations. Starting April 5, 2026, the airline will operate three daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flights between Sydney and Guangzhou during the Northern Summer season, matching its three-daily Northern Winter schedule.
A fourth daily service will be added during peak Chinese New Year periods.
The increase will deliver an additional 420 return flights and nearly 125,000 extra seats over the season, according to Sydney Airport. All services feature 28 business class seats and 269 economy class seats.
Greg Botham, Sydney Airport Group Executive Aviation Growth and Group Strategy, described the expansion as a strong vote of confidence in Sydney. “For the first time, China Southern Airlines will be flying three times a day right across the year, giving passengers more choice and flexibility,” Botham said.
Jason Sun, China Southern Airlines Regional General Manager, said the expansion represents the highest level of service the airline has operated between the two cities. “By strengthening our schedule, we are improving the overall travel experience for passengers, while also enhancing connectivity through our Guangzhou hub to destinations across China and our broader international network,” Sun said.
The enhanced schedule strengthens one-stop connectivity via Guangzhou to major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as onward destinations across China and the airline’s global network including Europe and South Asia.