China Southern Airlines (China Southern) will join the Sky Team
Alliance (STA) before the end of the year, the first Chinese
airline to join an international air service alliance.
Liu Shaoyong, general manager of China Southern, made the
announcement at the on-going summit between Chinese airlines and
the STA.
The STA is one of the world's top three airline alliances, with
members operating up to 15,000 daily flights. Its members include
Air France, Korean Airlines and Air Mexico.
Vice Director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of
China (CAAC) Li Jian told the summit that China Southern's move
shows that China's airlines are upgrading their management and
service quality in accordance with international standards.
Liu said to meet STA's requirements; China Southern has spent
the last ten months upgrading its service facilities, standards and
procedures. In June 2006, China Southern signed a GAAAA agreement
(an agreement to observe relevant rules) with the STA.
At the summit, 18 Chinese airports, including Beijing Capital
Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, discussed issues such as
passenger transfer and standardization of ground services. Airport
spokesmen supported moves by Chinese airlines to join international
airline alliances.
Airline experts said, as China's number one passenger carrier,
China Southern will be able to offer passengers more convenient
services after joining the STA.
The summit -- the first to be held in China by an international
airline organization -- was jointly sponsored by China Southern and
the STA.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2007)