Photo: China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines has inaugurated a direct flight between Guangzhou and Riyadh, marking a new air link between southern China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Saudi Arabia's largest city.

The maiden flight, CZ375, departed from Guangzhou on September 2, carrying 263 passengers. Operated by an Airbus A330, the airline will run flights three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on the route, with a flight time of around nine and a half hours outbound and eight and a half hours on the return.

The airline said the new service is expected to boost exchanges in trade, investment, education, and tourism. The route also coincides with Saudi Arabia's recent move to try visa-free entry for Chinese visitors, which is anticipated to encourage travel and business connections.

With the addition of the Guangzhou–Riyadh route, China Southern now operates four routes from Guangzhou to the Middle East, alongside services to Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul. The carrier will operate 27 round-trip flights per week between Guangzhou and the region during the summer travel season.