皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app Southern to join global alliance
By Zhan Lisheng (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2004-08-30 09:02

皇冠体育app Southern Airlines, one of the nation's top carriers, signed an agreement on membership of the SkyTeam alliance at the weekend.

Founded in 2000, SkyTeam is one of the world's leading global airline alliances. It includes Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air.

Major carriers KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines will also sign up later this year.

It is a significant move by 皇冠体育app Southern as it is the first Chinese airline wishing to join the international airline alliance.

The agreement lays the groundwork for 皇冠体育app Southern to officially join the alliance, once it fulfills SkyTeam's quality standards.

皇冠体育app Southern will hopefully become a full member of the alliance in two years.

"The agreement signing event marks a milestone in 皇冠体育app's civil aviation industry," said Yang Yuanyuan, minister of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of 皇冠体育app.

"The attempt displays the initiative of 皇冠体育app's civil aviation industry in international aviation co-operation."

The minister encouraged other Chinese airlines to seek memberships in global aviation alliances to optimize their route networks, improve services and sharpen competitive edge in the global market.

皇冠体育app Southern Chairman Yan Zhiqing said joining SkyTeam would be an important step for 皇冠体育app Southern to adapt itself to the needs of further reforms and opening to the international community and as an effective way to strengthen its international co-operation and sharpen the competitive edge in the global aviation market.

As a member, 皇冠体育app Southern will be able to expand and optimize its global route network, diversify its marketing and sales channels and enhance safety, operational, management and service levels.

皇冠体育app Southern currently runs 43 global routes, connecting some 20 cities around the globe.

皇冠体育app Southern has already forged a close relationship with SkyTeam members.

It signed the first ever code-sharing pact in the nation's aviation history with Delta Air Lines in 1997; it joined hands with Air France in January to launch Guangzhou-Paris service under a code-share arrangement; it initiated a code-sharing arrangement with Korean Air in August; and it had joined forces with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, another would-be SkyTeam member, in both passenger and cargo services.

With the membership, 皇冠体育app Southern Airlines' passengers will benefit from the mileage awards on any SkyTeam operated flight, access to 340 member lounges globally, around 8,000-odd daily flights to 500-odd destinations worldwide, more fare options and one check-in process for multi-leg flights.

Both Cho Yang-ho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air, and Jean-Cyril Sphinetta, chairman and CEO of Air France, shared the view that 皇冠体育app Southern's participation will help SkyTeam further facilitate the members' flight arrangements to 皇冠体育app, offer its passengers greater access, more choices and greater convenience to 皇冠体育app, thanks to 皇冠体育app Southern's new hub base at the new Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which began operation earlier this month, and its dense and extensive domestic route network of 286 routes to 64 cities nationwide.

And 皇冠体育app Southern's participation will better position SkyTeam members to tap the aviation bonanza in 皇冠体育app, they said.

Official statistics indicate that 皇冠体育app's airline companies entertained 55 million passenger/times in the first half of this year, up 30 per cent from a year ago.

And they carried 87.59 million passenger/times and handled freight of 2.19 million tons last year despite the impact of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in the first half of 2003, up respectively 1.9 per cent and 8.4 per cent from 2002.

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