August 8, 2007 -- On July 29, China Southern Airline announced that it will start three new international routes by the end of the year to fly from Wuhan's Tianhe Airport. The new routes are: Wuhan to Pudong to Seoul, Wuhan to Dalian-Tokyo and Wuhan to Guangzhou to Ho Chi Minh City. The announcement coincides with the commencement of three new domestic routes from Wuhan to Hohhot, Nanjing and Haikou and Urumuqi.

"With the increase in foreign trade in Wuhan, especially with Japanese companies, the investment in Wuhan increases. The opening of a new international air route is a response to demand from the market," Jianhua Sun, manager of China Southern Airlines' Hubei branch, told Emerging China.

"China Southern Airlines Group has worked together with Hubei Government to make Hubei's airline industry become stronger and build Wuhan into a prominent aviation hub," added Sun.

"Compared with domestic routes, international routes have stronger profitability," Lei Li, analyst at China Securities Research Co. Ltd. told Emerging China, "China Southern Airlines has actively participated in airline expansion in Hubei."

This summer, China Southern has gradually increased the number of scheduled flights which take off from Wuhan to other parts of the country, adjusted flight route resources, and increased domestic direct flight density to other major cities from Wuhan.

"As the demand for international flights develops, Wuhan will intensify its efforts in foreign business and trade. With the increasing number of international routes in Tianhe Airport, it will promote understanding of foreign countries and cultural exchanges," a spokesman of Wuhan Tianhe Airport, told Emerging China.

"As long as the airport's business grows, income also grows," Lei Li said. "It could promote local economic development because of quantity of visitors. It could provide more convenient transportation for more people. With the increase in business volume, the outlook of the airport's profit is good."

The International Civil Aviation Organization categorizes Wuhan Tianhe Airport as a regular international airport and a central Chinese air transport hub. With no need to change planes at Tianhe, travelers will enjoy the convenience of a direct flight.

As of July this year, China Southern has 45 flights leaving Wuhan everyday, a growth of nearly 50 percent on last.