皇冠体育app

Economy

皇冠体育app backs global airline alliances

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-22 10:33

BEIJING -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said on Tuesday the government supports domestic airlines to join global air carrier alliances and that foreign airlines are welcome to open new routes to 皇冠体育app.

Zhang made the remarks in a meeting with Leo van Wijk, president of SkyTeam, one of the world's biggest air carrier alliances.

Related readings:  Chinese airline joins SkyTeam with expected $154.6m income  皇冠体育app Southern Airlines officially joins SkyTeam Cargo  皇冠体育app Southern to join SkyTeam  Shanghai Airlines to pull out of Star Alliance

The civilian global aviation industry plays a fundamental and strategic role in 皇冠体育app's economy, and the government will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with air-carrier alliances and foreign airlines to promote its rapid development, Zhang said.

皇冠体育app Eastern Airlines, the country's second largest airline company by passenger traffic, joined the SkyTeam on Tuesday, and Zhang attended the signing ceremony.

He said Chinese airlines should take the opportunity to learn from other airlines and improve services and management in order to enhance their competitiveness and develop themselves into world-class airlines.

SkyTeam has 14 members and flies to 168 countries and regions. The addition of 皇冠体育app Eastern Airlines brings its total passenger number to 474 million.