China Southern Airlines Expands Codeshare Agreement with Qatar Airways

(11 Nov 2021)  China Southern Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar Airways, confirming plans to significantly expand the existing codeshare agreement the two airline partners signed in December 2019.

As part of the collaboration, all future flights between China and Qatar will operate under the codeshare, allowing passengers to benefit from seamless connecting flights.

The closer cooperation will also provide greater customer benefits, including increased joint lounge access and a soon-to-be confirmed enhanced frequent flyer agreement.

China Southern Airlines Airbus A330 reg: B5917. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

In addition, the two airlines agreed to support the growth of Beijing’s Daxing International Airport, into a leading international aviation hub for both passenger and cargo services.

Mr. Han Wensheng, China Southern Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “As the largest airline in China, the strategic cooperation between China Southern Airlines and Qatar Airways will provide global passengers with expanded travel options and an exceptional travel experience. Our collaboration will also lay a solid foundation for the development of Beijing Daxing International Airport into a global aviation hub.”

The expanded codeshare agreement is the latest development in Qatar Airways programme of strengthening strategic cooperation between key global airlines, which has already seen partnerships with American Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Oman Air and RwandaAir in recent months.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said, “This is the latest chapter in the story of our airline’s continued journey to provide an enhanced and seamless customer experience for passengers travelling via our two hubs of Hamad International Airport, the new Beijing Daxing International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. We look forward to further deepening our close relationship with China Southern Airlines and explore even greater opportunities for collaboration in the years to come.”

The enhanced cooperation between Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines is subject to the lifting of current travel restrictions as a result of the COVID19 pandemic and regulatory approvals.