I'd like to deliver my deepest gratitude and sincere blessings to China Daily's readers on behalf of China Southern Airlines on the occasion of the Spring Festival.

As the leading airlines in Asia in terms of passenger flow, China Southern Airlines has witnessed the transportation of 66.28 million passengers in 2009, with the frequent-flyer members - the Sky Pearl Club - reaching 7 million. I should say our carrier could not have grown so fast without the support of passengers and the trust the readers have put in us.

At the end of 2009, China Southern Airlines has accumulated 6.52 million safe flight hours, recorded 187 consecutive months of safe flight operations and carried 430 million passengers, breaking the record of safe operation in China's civil aviation industry.

On July 16, 2008, our carrier was honored with the Five-Star Flight Safety Award - the most prestigious award for safe flight operations -- by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

"Feel passengers, serve passengers" has been our credo for decades. Besides offering conventional service to customers, China Southern Airlines is also committed to being a green carrier by adopting energy-saving materials and technology.

The carrier's commitment to social responsibility was, once again, evident when it participated in earthquake relief recently at Haiti. Dozens of tons of disaster-relief materials were flown to this poorest country in western hemisphere by our chartered plane, which also brought our peacekeeping heroes' bodies back home.

In 2010, I wish our country becomes more prosperous and people happier. I wish the Shanghai Expo and Guangzhou Asian Games a big success.

I can feel a warm breeze blowing in from the south. I'd like to wish you a happy Spring Festival and joyful journey through life.

                                        Si Xianmin, president of China Southern Air Holding Company

Photograph: President of China Southern Air Holding Company, Mr. Si Xianmin.