To celebrate the United Kingdom’s year in the spotlight hosting the Olympics, China Southern Airlines (CSA), the mainland’s biggest carrier, has announced the start of a new direct flight to London Heathrow from Guangzhou starting on June 6.

The thrice-weekly flights (Wed, Fri and Sun) is good news for UK travellers. Those who flew Emirates, Air France, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and others to get to Guangdong’s provincial capital from the UK – or to fly over to Britain – will understand the extra transit travelling in the past, and at present.

China Southern at Hong Kong International Airport

For CSA, it’s their first direct flight into Britain, and while they already fly direct to Paris and Amsterdam, now businesses with a presence, workforce or trade partners can fly direct into Heathrow or possibly fly out for big events like the bi-annual Canton Fair, billed as one of Guangzhou’s biggest draws and China’s largest trade fair.

And for Heathrow and its airport operator BAA – it finally diversifies their destination offering in China, albeit a small move, compared to the vast connections from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle or Frankfurt.

However, as one arm gives, another taketh away at Baiyun Airport. Some time ago Lufthansa announced it was axing it’s Guangzhou service – terminating March 26. Guangzhou loses it’s only direct flight to Germany – leaving an important destination to be filled – perhaps by CSA since it flies to France and the Netherlands already, aided by fellow SkyTeam members Air France-KLM.