iscover
Warning: Undefined array key "image-size-770" in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/australianaviation/functions.php on line 1310
Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /data/www/upgrade/australianaviation.com.au/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/australianaviation/functions.php on line 1310
Qantas has significantly bolstered its reach into the burgeoning China market with the signing of a codesharing agreement with that country’s largest and fastest growing airline, China Southern, with whom it has also flagged further cooperation.
The deal will see Qantas codeshare on China Southern flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Guangzhou, and from Guangzhou on connecting flights to Xiamen, Kunming, Fuzhou and Urumqi. In turn China Southern will codeshare on 10 Qantas domestic and New Zealand services. The deal is subject to regulatory approval, but would see codesharing commence in “early” 2014.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Qantas already has a codesharing arragement with Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines (which is also partnering with Qantas in its Jetstar Hong Kong operation).
“Partnering is key to our strategy in Asia and we’re very pleased to now have China Southern as one of our codeshare partners in the world’s fastest growing aviation market,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in announcing the codeshare deal in Guangzhou on Monday.
Further, Qantas says that the “two airlines have also agreed to investigate other areas of potential cooperation, including pilot training assistance from Qantas and cargo opportunities.”
“The signing of this agreement between China Southern and Qantas Airways blazes a new and exciting trail for our two companies,” said China Southern Airlines chairman Si Xianmin.
“We welcome this move because it will give our passengers greater access to Australia and will also open up Australian tourism to a leisure and business market that is growing by nearly 20 per cent a year.”
China Southern is majority owned by the Chinese government. It began operating the A380 on its daily Sydney-Guangzhou services in late October and is profiled in the December issue of Australian Aviation
Craig
says:I cant believe this complaining about virgins partners but doing deals with chinese goverment airlines and dubai government ,qantas hyprocacy
Patrick Kilby
says:Craig I doubt China Southern (or Emirates for that matter) is not trumping up $300m in equity; that is the difference!!! – so not quite hypocracy; it is about a level playing field when it comes to cheap capital. Government backed capital is cheaper.
Dane
says:The death knell for Qantas international is about to sound
Anthony Hill
says:If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Joining the puzzle pieces for a foreign takeover.
Dee
says:Dane, do you think JQ will take over the QF International routes in the future, I see JQ expanding, and using more off shore flight crew based in overseas hubs, the 787 being ideal for this operation; with QF maybe keeping across the Pacific, the A380’s to London, and of course the Jo’burg cash cow.
Ray E
says:How long until QANTAS International is just a virtual airline? Codeshare all international flights and sell off all the aircraft allocated to the International arm of QANTAS.