British Airways announced Tuesday an expanded Joint business relationship with China Southern Airlines. The Memorandum of Understanding signed today expands a 2017 codeshare agreement and includes reciprocal frequent flyer benefits.
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Today, British Airways announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Southern Airlines, further expanding their joint business relationship. The two airlines originally launched a codeshare agreement in 2017 across ten routes. The new joint business includes codesharing on all direct routes between London and Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya, Wuhan and Zhengzhou and will eventually expand to both airlines’ extensive domestic networks. Tickets can be booked now for travel from January 2, 2020. In Tuesday’s announcement, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, Alex Cruz said,
“We are delighted to announce this joint business which will bring the UK and China closer together by providing British Airways and China Southern Airlines customers with a wide range of benefits. The agreement reinforces our commitment to boost tourism and travel between the two countries and we look forward to strengthening the relationship further.”
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The new agreement will benefit customers of both airlines by offering more destinations between the UK and China, a greater choice of flights and enhanced reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. Additionally, the airlines can now cooperate on scheduling and pricing, offering customers more flexible options with a greater range of fares. Customers can book through both airlines’ websites and app platforms and will have enhanced access to lounges and high quality British and Chinese products both on the ground and in the air.
The newly expanded joint business agreement has been facilitated by the move of both airlines to Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport. Last October, British Airways became the first international airline to move all operations to the new airport, recognizing the importance of driving traffic between the UK and China with a world-class guest experience. Customers will benefit by the expanded codeshare immediately with access to 31 direct weekly flights between London and six Chinese destinations, which will eventually expand across the extensive domestic networks of both airlines.
Source: British Airways