The "New Zealand Cares Day" project is launched at China Southern's Sky Pearl Club lounges at its Guangzhou and Beijing hubs on January 18, 2022. Photo: Courtesy of China Southern

China Southern Airlines and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), New Zealand's economic development and trade promotion agency, officially launched the New Zealand Cares Day Project on Tuesday.

Starting Tuesday until the end of 2022, every Tuesday will be a "New Zealand Cares Day". A range of New Zealand companies will provide tailored services to passengers on China Southern's Sky Pearl Club lounges at its Guangzhou and Beijing hubs.

This new project is an upgraded passenger caring cooperation between both sides under the theme of "Always Caring for You".

China Southern, in partnership with NZTE, will upgrade its pandemic prevention and control measures at two of China's major international aviation hubs: Beijing Daxing International Airport, also known as the new gateway to China, and the carrier's home base at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

The two sides will introduce smart disinfection robots and PPE vending machines, using environmentally friendly technologies, at China Southern's Sky Pearl Club lounges at both hub airports. This will help achieve its pandemic prevention efforts and strengthen COVID-19 passenger prevention and promote environmental protection awareness through multiple channels.

China Southern has pledged to break ground in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by working with more potential partners and making tangible contributions to the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympic Games and China's anti-pandemic campaign.

China Southern staff distribute limited edition pandemic prevention kits to passengers on some international flights to China. Photo: Courtesy of China Southern

Starting Tuesday, January 19 until the end of year 2022, every Tuesday will be a "New Zealand Cares Day". On the premise of complying with relevant regulations on pandemic prevention and control, New Zealand companies will offer customized products at China Southern's Sky Pearl Club lounges in Guangzhou and Beijing Daxing, including limited editions of pandemic prevention kits, seasonal healthy drinks and displays of new product, creating an atmosphere of "affinity and refinement" for travelers while safeguarding their journey. 

Cheng Yong, Executive Vice President of China Southern Airlines Co Ltd said that, as the first airline in the Chinese mainland to launch a direct service to Auckland and Christchurch, which is currently suspended due to the pandemic, China Southern has been actively serving China's national strategies.

Cheng said the new cooperation with the New Zealand government has expanded operations from Guangzhou to Beijing Daxing, with value-added passenger services extended from cabins to airport lounges. 

"Through this partnership, we have developed a new cooperation model of using resources within our eco-system to enhance hospitality featuring 'Affinity and Refinement'. We look forward to sharing resources with more partners to achieve common development, while constantly innovating products and services to deliver memorable air travel experience to the people," Cheng mentioned. 

During the launch of the New Zealand Cares Day project, the Sky Pearly Club lounges at Guangzhou and Beijing Daxing hubs were especially decorated, combining China Southern's characteristic image with a New Zealand touch which give passengers the warmth of both sides when they enter each lounge.

Limited edition pandemic prevention kits gifted to passengers highlight a curated list of specialties from New Zealand, including hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial laundry liquid, Manuka honey lozenges, immunoglobulin milk powder, sheep milk powder and organic tea bags.

A selection of seasonal healthy drinks will be prepared on site with New Zealand ingredients such as immunoglobulin milk, Manuka honey tea, dark sugar cane drink, vitamin C fruit tea, sheep milk, and organic green tea.

All the products served on site meet the relevant inspection and quarantine standards.

China Southern staff distribute the limited edition pandemic prevention kits for passengers on some international airplanes to China. Photo: Courtesy of China Southern

Pete Frost, New Zealand Trade Commissioner for Southern China said that he is "very proud that NZTE is able to collaborate with China Southern as a strategic partner to showcase premium New Zealand products in such an innovative way, while also supporting the health and well-being of travelers".

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China Southern has prioritized passenger's health and safety, fulfilling its responsibility of pandemic prevention and control while providing human, digital, refined, convenient and personalized services. 

In August last year, the carrier initiated the first round of cross-over cooperation with NZTE to introduce the International Passenger Caring Project, offering complimentary hotel quarantine kits to passengers entering China on selected international flights, in an effort to enhance passengers' security, wellbeing and happiness.

As of now, more than 4,000 passengers on China Southern's flights from Auckland, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Vientiane and Tokyo have received the hotel quarantine kits. In total, 10,000 international passengers are expected to benefit from this unique partnership.