China Southern Airlines has submitted an application to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for launching a thrice-weekly service from its home base Guangzhou to Moscow, via Zhengzhou in March 2017.

Pending government approval, the Guangzhou-based carrier will operate the Guangzhou-Zhengzhou-Moscow service using Airbus A332/A333/Boeing 787 aircraft, according to an announcement released Tuesday on the CAAC's official website.

The Guangzhou-based carrier currently operates daily services to Moscow (including thrice weekly flights via Wuhan). It is seeking to convert three of these services to the Guangzhou-Zhengzhou-Moscow route.

China Southern competes with Aeroflot on the Guangzhou-Moscow route; however it will be the only operator between Zhengzhou and Moscow.

The Air Transportation Department of CAAC is soliciting public comments on the application until January 10, 2017.