Kiwi Flyer said:
Both Shanghai Airlines and Air China have confirmed they will be joining *A.
From the BMI website today
Air China to become Star Alliance member carrier
release date: 22/05/2006
Air China Limited (‘Air China’) and Star Alliance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming an invitation for Air China to join the alliance.
Commenting on today’s event, Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO said: “With Air China having chosen to join Star Alliance, we have now taken the decisive step in implementing our strategy for the Chinese market. This decision truly lays the foundation for the future pace in Chinese Aviation.”
Attending the event was the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Angela Merkel, who is on her first visit to China; German Federal Minister for Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Wolfgang Tiefensee; Minister Yang Yuanyuan of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China.
Mr. Li Jiaxiang, Chairman of China National Aviation Holding Company, Mr. Ma Xulun, President of Air China Limited, Mr. Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance and several CEOs of the Star Alliance member carriers were also present at the ceremony together with 150 distinguished guests.
Mr. Li Jiaxiang, Chairman of China National Aviation Holding Company and Chairman of Air China Limited, said in his speech: “With economic globalisation and open skies, the competition in the airline industry will become more and more severe. No one airline can create a global network by itself. In order to survive and develop, airlines have to cooperate with other partners in various forms including multilateral alliance cooperation.”
“Cooperation between Air China and Star Alliance will be mutually beneficial. Currently, China is one of the fastest growing civil aviation markets with great potential. Through cooperation with Air China, Star Alliance will connect its international route network with China through Air China’s extensive domestic network and extend its global route network. The travelling public will have access to more convenient services, savings made and efficiency improved,” Mr. Li said.
The Star Alliance network recently also extended an invitation to Shanghai Airlines to join the alliance. This dual-hub approach will allow the alliance to offer a unique network from the two most important airports in China.
Once both Air China and Shanghai Airlines will have become full members of the alliance, the Star Alliance network will grow to 20 members, offering more than 16,500 daily fights to 912 destinations in 160 countries.
ends
About Air China
After going public in 2004, Air China has rapidly reformed through changed working and management practices. Profitable in 2004 Air China was also made a profit in 2005 with total turnover of 7.44 billion tonne kilometres [up 10.2 per cent] Passenger transportation volume increased to 27.695 million [up 13 per cent] Profit after tax was 2.406 billion RMB [up 0.85 per cent compared with the same period last year].
Facing new domestic and international competition, Air China set up four strategic objectives: “to be recognised by premium passengers, achieve best profits, to be a valuable airline of China and an airline with global competitive strength.”
Air China has a fleet of 176 aircraft, mainly Boeing and Airbus. It operates up to 70 domestic and 36 international destinations in 22 countries and regions. It flies around 4160 flights per week. Through code shares with 18 domestic and international airlines, Air China operates 1210 code share flights.
Cooperation between Air China and existing Star Alliance member carriers:
Air China currently has code-share relationships with the following Star Alliance member carriers: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Lufthansa, SAS, United and VARIG.
Cooperation between ANA - Air China
ANA began code-sharing with Air China on flights between Japan and China in March 2004. At the same time, the two airlines also instigated mutual recognition of their Frequent Flyer Programmes. This very successful co-operation agreement soon expanded from 102 weekly jointly operated flights to the present 185. Air China’s decision to join the Star Alliance family is warmly welcomed by ANA, as it will add a new dimension to an already strong relationship, and further cement the partnership between two Asian neighbours.
Cooperation between Austrian Airlines - Air China
Austrian Airlines and Air China started their cooperation in form of a code-share/blocked space agreement in January 1996 on the Vienna - Beijing v.v. route. Upon resumption of the Vienna-Shanghai vv. flights in summer 2004, this route was equally included in the cooperation agreement with Air China, thus enabling connections on to the extensive domestic network of Air China within China on one hand and the extensive network of Austrian Airlines via the Vienna hub to Central, Eastern and Western Europe.
Cooperation between Lufthansa – Air China
Code Share Cooperation: Air China and Lufthansa started code share cooperation on Oct 29, 2000. Considerable advancement has been made in that time.
Sino-German Trunk Route Code Sharing: Currently the total code share capacity of Air China and Lufthansa is 49 flights per week of which 18 flights are operated by Air China and 31 flights by Lufthansa.
Domestic points code sharing: Air China has code shares with Lufthansa on nine points in Germany including Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Stuttgart. Third country code sharing points include Sao Paulo in Brazil, Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao in Spain.
Lufthansa puts its code on Air China’s flights to the following cities in China: Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenyang, Xiamen and Wenzhou. In April of 2005, Air China started a third country code share with Lufthansa to Sao Paulo in Brazil, Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao in Spain. At the same day, Air China opened it route from China to Brazil and Spain through code share.
Frequent Flyer Program Co-operation: FFP members of both airlines can collect and redeem miles on any airline’s flight.
Through Check-in: Through Check-in service provides passengers with efficient and convenient transfer.
Product and Service consistency: The consistent product and services provided by both airlines can further improve the passenger service quality and bring passengers with premium services.
About Ameco
Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corporation (Ameco Beijing), located at Beijing Capital International Airport, is a joint venture between Air China Limited and Lufthansa. Ameco Beijing was established on August 1st, 1989. It is not only the leading maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider in China but also the first aircraft maintenance and engineering company in China with certificates from FAA, EASA, CAAC and 12 other airworthiness authorities. Ameco has the ability to provide domestic and international customers with Boeing and Airbus aircraft line maintenance, overhaul and engine overhaul services.
Cooperation between United – Air China
Having started service to China in 1986, United Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to launch non-stop services between China and the U.S. United Airlines is currently the largest carrier between China and the U.S. 2006 will be the 20th anniversary of United Airlines serving China.
In 2003, United entered into a commercial partnership with Air China that includes codesharing, frequent-flyer benefits and access to airport lounges. Together, the two carriers offer code-share flights across the Pacific and within China. Last year, they expanded the agreement to include cargo.
