Agreement marks Emirates’ first code-share partnership with a Chinese carrier
Emirates and China Southern Airlines (IATA code: CZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to progress a comprehensive reciprocal code-share agreement, which is set to open up new destinations for passengers travelling between China and the Middle East and Africa.
The partnership with the Guangzhou-based carrier also allows Emirates’ passengers to enjoy seamless connectivity on domestic flights within China, adding eight new destinations to its global network.
The Chinese cities covered by the code-share agreement include Fuzhou, Chongqing, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Nanjing and Xi ‘an during the initial phase of the partnership, subject to necessary government approvals.
Passengers traveling from China will have more choice and travel seamlessly with minimum connection times, when flying to destinations in Emirates’ Middle East network such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Muscat, Kuwait and Cairo. The code-share agreement also includes flights to African destinations such as Seychelles and Lagos, operated by Emirates.
With the UAE’s visa-free policy for Chinese visitors, passengers can also enjoy hassle-free stopovers in Dubai, and experience what the city has to offer before flying to their final destinations.
“The addition of the eight domestic routes in the initial stage expands our reach in China, beyond the three Chinese hub cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning, Revenue Optimisation & Aeropolitical Affairs.
“Emirates is our first bi-directional partner in the Middle East, and we are very pleased to enter into a code-share partnership with Emirates,” remarked Han Wensheng, Chief Operating Officer, Southern Air Holding Company.
Emirates currently has code-share agreements in place with 23 partners around the world.
