News

Four SkyTeam members form "Greater China Connection"

3 Jan 2013

Taiwanese carrier China Airlines and Mainland Chinese carriers China Southern, China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines – all members of the international SkyTeam alliance – have come together to launch the “Greater China Connection” programme aimed at facilitating cross-strait traffic and co-operation. 

A formal statement from the four carriers states that through this regional alliance, the four SkyTeam members will “share resources to establish a common set of Cross-Strait membership services.” The networks of these four carriers will be better integrated and frequent flyer members of either one of the airlines will be able to enjoy reciprocal benefits, including mileage accumulation, award tickets, priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling as well as access to each airline’s lounges.

While these benefits seem exactly the same as those of SkyTeam, the most important difference is that Greater China Connection's apply to the members' domestic networks as well, stated a China Southern spokesperson. Furthermore, “passengers that purchase outbound tickets from any of the four airlines that operate those flights can change their inbound tickets to codeshare flights of other marketing carriers... [which] also applies to connecting flights," the statement says.

The announcement of the alliance's formation seems strategic, as Xiamen Airlines only formally became part of SkyTeam last November (see story here).

The Greater China Connection has a lot of growth potential as travel between Taiwan and China continues to grow healthily against a backdrop of greater political co-operation. Direct cross-trait travel between Taiwan and the mainland only became possible in July 2008, but according to industry intelligence provider CAPA – Centre for Aviation, by August 2009, the number of weekly flights had increased from 108 to 270. Eventually, the cap was increased to 370 flights per week, and last month, it was decided that the number is to increase to 616 in 2013. China has agreed to open more of its airports to cross-strait flights while Taiwan will open up one more airport, in the southwestern city of Chiayi, as part of this increasingly close relationship. 

Inevitably, the strength of this programme will affect Hong Kong and Macau. In fact, given the sheer size of each airline's network, one of every two China-Taiwan service will now fall under Greater China Connection, which will weaken Hong Kong carriers' competitive advantage of “carrying passengers between China and Taiwan via their hub,” states CAPA

To inaugurate this new four-way partnership, the Greater China Connection is offering promotions for new and existing members. New members who join any of the four frequent flyer programmes between January 3 and March 31 will receive 888 miles or reward points. Members who purchase two cross-strait flights with these four carriers during the same time period will also receive 888 reward points.

Visit www.china-airlines.com/en, www.csair.com/enwww.flychinaeastern.com and www.xiamenair.com

Alisha Haridasani

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