China Southern codeshares with Emirates

Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines has launched a codeshare partnership with Emirates starting from June 27.

The two airlines will begin codeshare operations on their daily Guangzhou-Dubai route. Tickets can be booked now for travel from June 27.

China Southern operates daily flights between the two cities. The outbound flight departs from Guangzhou at 1905, before arriving in Dubai at 2320. The return leg leaves Dubai at 0100, and lands back in Guangzhou at 1235.

China Southern uses its 309-seater Boeing B777-300ER on this flight. The aircraft is equipped with seats in four classes, including four “semi-box style” seats in the first class, 34 in business class, 44 in premium economy and 277 in economy class.

Meanwhile, the departing flight from Dubai to Guangzhou operated by Emirates is scheduled to leave Dubai at 1020, and lands at Guangzhou at 2205, while the return flight is a red-eye departing from Guangzhou at 0015 before arriving in Dubai at 0425.

Emirates deploys a three-class Airbus A380 aircraft on this route. This double-deck aircraft has 14 private suites in the first class and 76 front-facing business class seats laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration on the upper deck as well as 427 economy class seats on the lower deck.

The codeshare means that both airlines now have effectively two daily flights each between Guangzhou and Dubai. Codeshares allow passengers to book an itinerary with different operating airlines under a single booking, travel with a single boarding pass collected at the departure airport and have their checked luggage delivered all the way to their final destinations.

The two airlines signed the codeshare agreement on January 31 this year. The partnership will see more codeshare routes launched in the future, including on Emirates flights departing from Dubai to Cairo, Mahe Island (in the Seychelles), Lagos, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as select China Southern domestic flights in China departing from Guangzhou, China Southern’s domestic hub. Both airlines are also eyeing cooperation in customer services and other business fields.

China Southern is Emirates’ first codeshare partner in China. The Guangzhou-based carrier has recently entered into a new codeshare agreement with Finnair, and has expanded its codeshare routes with American Airlines since late last year.

Emirates currently codeshares with several other Asia-Pacific airlines, including Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas, Jetstar Airways and Jetstar Asia.

Business Traveller Asia-Pacific previously reported its recent codeshare deal with LATAM Airlines Brazil and that the UAE flag carrier would offer a choice of fares for business class customers on select routes and flights.

csair.com / emirates.com