China Southern Launches 5th Freedom Cargo Route: CAN-AKL-SYD

               China Southern Airlines Cargo Launches Pioneering Fifth-Freedom Route Linking Greater Bay Area with ANZ

Guangzhou, 15 July 2025 – China Southern Airlines Cargo has made aviation history by launching the first fifth-freedom freight service connecting Guangzhou (CAN), Auckland (AKL) and Sydney (SYD), marking a strategic expansion of the Greater Bay Area's air cargo network into the South Pacific.
Route Specifications
Operations:
Boeing 777F aircraft (102-ton payload)
3x weekly (Tue/Thu/Sat)
Fifth-freedom rights on AKL-SYD segment
Specialized Services:
E-commerce modules (8,000 parcels/flight)
Pharma-grade temp control (2-8°C)
DG certification (lithium batteries/perfumes)
Market Impact
Transit Time:
CAN-SYD reduced to 14hrs (vs 24hr+ via hubs)
NZ fresh produce reaches GBA supermarkets next-day
Capacity:
Adds 15,000 tonnes annual China-AU capacity
40% faster ANZ cargo transfers
"This triangular routing lets clients move goods between three markets under one air waybill," said the airline's Cargo VP.
Strategic Significance
Competition: Challenges Middle Eastern carriers' ANZ hub dominance
Trade Boost:
GBA electronics → Sydney tech firms
AU lobsters/NZ dairy → Guangzhou consumers
Infrastructure: Aligns with Sydney Airport's new cargo precinct
Context: Fifth-freedom rights (granted at only 56 global airports) enable intermediate point traffic rights. This launch paves way for future routes like CAN-SIN-CGK.