China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou) says it intends to use Mauritius as its launching point for further expansion into Africa. At the recent signing of a partnership agreement between the airline and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), China Southern vice-chairman, Zhang Jianmin, said: "We want to expand our flights to the African market and the Indian Ocean region, and Mauritius will be the gateway."

China Southern made its African début with the launch of a weekly A330-300 service from Shenzhen to Mauritius on June 27.

With the volume of trade between China and Africa having almost quadrupled over the last decade, Chinese carriers have increasingly looked to the continent for new markets. Among the frontrunners is Hainan Airlines (HU, Haikou) which, in addition to its regional Ghanaian outfit Africa World Airlines (AW, Accra), is now planning to enter the East African market via a partnership with Kenyan freight specialist, Astral Aviation (8V, Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta).

Chinese carriers have yet to begin scheduled, year-round services to mainland Africa.