Airline staffers pose for a photo in front of the plane to celebrate the maiden direct flight between Shenzhen and Amsterdam operated by China Southern Airlines at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport yesterday. ?Courtesy of China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines flight CZ8091 bound for Amsterdam departed Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport at 1:50 a.m. yesterday, marking the operation of Shenzhen airport’s first international route this year.

It is also the first direct route between the city and the Netherlands.

The flight will operate twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays. It will depart from Shenzhen at 1:50 a.m. (Beijing time) and arrive in Amsterdam at 8 a.m. (local time). Return flight CZ8092 will depart Amsterdam at 2:10 p.m. the same day (local time) and arrive in Shenzhen at 9 a.m. the next day (Beijing time), according to a release from China Southern Airlines Shenzhen Co. yesterday.

Tickets, especially for return flights after Jan. 9, are selling fast as the Spring Festival is approaching, and China has adjusted its COVID-19 measures.

The airline also reminded outbound passengers to arrive at the Shenzhen airport to check in the night before since the flights are red-eye flights.

By the end of 2022, China Southern Airlines had resumed four international routes at the Shenzhen airport, namely the routes to Jakarta, Moscow, Dubai and Singapore.

In 2023, the operator will resume more routes including ones to the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and it will intensify the flights to Indonesia.