China Southern Airlines to join SkyTeam

China Southern Airlines today signed an agreement for future membership to the airline alliance, SkyTeam.

The SkyTeam Alliance was founded in June 2000 by Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. In 2001, CSA Czech Airlines and Alitalia joined the alliance. Since then, the SkyTeam alliance has expanded customer service with flights to 121 countries with 517 destinations, offering more than 8,300 flights per day with annual passenger traffic of more than 218 Million passengers.

“This agreement signing event is an important step forward into the future for China Southern Airlines to adapt itself to the need of reforms and opening to the international community, as it will strengthen the airline’s international cooperation and global competitiveness,” said Mr. Yan Zhiqing, Chairman, China Southern Airlines. He added that, “after joining Sky Team, the all-new Baiyun International Airport will be the first hub airport in China for SkyTeam. This new hub base will - at the same time - bring about new opportunities and growth for China Southern Airlines.”

Before this agreement signing, SkyTeam members had already established close relationships with China Southern Airlines. “As early as 1997, China Southern Airlines inked the ever first code-share pact in the Chinese aviation industry with Delta Air Lines. Delta has placed its code on China Southern flights from Los Angeles to Guangzhou for years,” explained Mr. Lu Kun, Vice President, China Southern Airlines.

Mr. Li added that, “In January this year, China Southern and Air France jointly launched Guangzhou-Paris service under a code-share arrangement and in August we began code-sharing with Korean Air on each other’s Incheon – Shenyang routes. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which is poised to join SkyTeam this year, also has an important relationship with China Southern in both passenger and cargo services from Amsterdam to Beijing and numerous cities throughout China.”

“As a strategic partner for the alliance, China Southern will help us provide greater access to the country and region for customers of all the SkyTeam carriers,” said Mr.Yang-Ho Cho, Chairman and CEO, Korean Air.

“With China Southern’s entrance, the SkyTeam alliance will offer passengers new access to China, greatly facilitating the member airlines’ flights arrangement. The airline alliance is just aimed at providing passengers with more choices and greater convenience,” added Mr. Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and CEO of Air France.