Airline alliance SkyTeam and one of its members China Southern Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (GBIA) to implement special services to Elite Plus members and first and business class passengers flying on SkyTeam carriers - the SkyPriority programme.
As previously reported (see story here), from April onwards, these travellers will enjoy a series of benefits when using GBIA, including priority in check-in, baggage drop, service at transfer desks, boarding and baggage handling, as well as possible fast tracks for immigration and security. The alliance will also seek to smoothen transfers at GBIA for its premium passengers.
Lv Yesheng, chairman of Guangdong Airport, promised better timeslots and preferential traffic rights to China Southern and SkyTeam members serving GBIA. SkyTeam’s vice-president of Airport Services Gordon Humpherys said the agreement would benefit China Southern and the six other member airlines in the alliance by “developing Guangzhou into a leading Asian hub”.
Other than China Southern, SkyTeam carriers serving Baiyun are Air France, China Eastern, KLM, Kenya Airways, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines.
The MOU signifies GBIA's growing importance as well as Pearl River Delta's emergence as an aviation hub. Look out for the March issue of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific, for an in-depth story on the region's airports and their development.
Reggie Ho
