International airlines Cathay Pacific and China Southern plan their Adelaide Airport return

Plans are underway for two major international airlines to return to Adelaide with the move expected to slash airfare costs.

Two major international airlines are plotting their return to South Australia, which experts say will help drive down airfare costs to Asia in a major coup for travellers.

Cathay Pacific and China Southern are planning their return to Adelaide with both airlines looking to offer flights from Adelaide this summer, reported 9 News.

While flight plans are yet to be finalised, Cathay Pacific will potentially fly direct to Hong Kong from Adelaide five times a week.

Cathay Pacific and China Southern are planning their return to Adelaide. Picture: Australian Airports Association.

China Southern is looking at flying to Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong province, at least three times a week.

International travellers at Adelaide Airport on Friday welcomed the idea of adding extra flights to Asia.

“Before it was quite cheap, Covid hit, its doubled the price [so] the more people going through here the better and the more air planes to get out of here the better as well,” one woman said.

Another said that more choices for travellers planning to head abroad would be good.

While nothing is set in stone, RAA General Travel Manager Gina Norman said.

“The addition would not only boost capacity but also drive down costs,” she said.

“When you have more airlines, more seats, more capacity, more competition, you tend to get better airfares.

“And we all have been dying for airfares to become more affordable.”

A spokesman from Adelaide Airport said they had not yet received confirmation of service restarts for either airline.