The first ever direct flight from China flight has landed in Perth this morning.
The China Southern Airlines flight from Beijing and Guangzhou was greeted by West Australian Premier Colin Barnett and Tourism Minister Kim Hames.
China Southern chairman Si Xianmin was among passengers aboard the official flight.
The airline is the biggest in Asia and the fifth-biggest in the world by passenger numbers.There will be three return flights a week to Perth.
"This is a milestone event for WA's visitor economy and for the first time gives us direct access to the world's biggest tourism market,'' Dr Hames said.
"Our goal is to increase the number of Chinese visitors to this state from about 15,000 a year to 100,000 by 2020.
"This service also strengthens WA's already strong business and trade links with China, with the state providing about 70 per cent of Australia's exports to China."
China Southern already has a presence in WA, following the establishment of its Flying College campuses at Jandakot and Merredin in 1993.
Dr Hames said Guangzhou - China's third biggest city behind Shanghai and Beijing - was now eight hours away non-stop.
"To raise awareness of WA in China, Tourism WA has been working closely with China Southern Airlines and Tourism Australia to develop a $2.5 million marketing campaign, which started in September," he said.
