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China Southern Airlines, founded in 1988 after the restructuring of China’s aviation industry, has grown into one of the world’s largest airlines and China’s biggest carrier. Headquartered in Guangzhou, the airline quickly expanded from a domestic operator to a major international player, connecting key Chinese cities with Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.

In the 1990s, China Southern launched regional routes across Southeast Asia and introduced its first long-haul flight to Los Angeles, marking the start of its global expansion. The 2000s brought rapid growth and major fleet upgrades, including Airbus A320/A330 aircraft and Boeing long-haul jets, cementing its international presence.

The airline joined the SkyTeam alliance in 2007, strengthening its global reach before leaving the group in 2018 to pursue independent partnerships. Throughout the 2010s, China Southern continued adding new destinations, operating modern aircraft such as the A380 and 787 Dreamliner, and carrying more than 100 million passengers annually.

Despite global challenges in 2020, the airline played a key role in domestic transport and humanitarian support. By 2021, China Southern shifted focus toward domestic recovery while maintaining strong international ambitions. Today, it remains one of Asia’s most influential and fastest-growing airlines.