Emirates Forges Codeshare Partnership with China Southern Airlines
Emirates’ first codeshare partnership with a Chinese carrier
Agreement with China’s largest airline covers 18 routes including domestic points in China and Middle Eastern and African destinations, complementing expansive networks of both airlines
Emirates and China Southern Airlines (IATA code: CZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to progress a comprehensive reciprocal codeshare agreement, which is set to open up new destinations for passengers travelling between China and the Middle East and Africa. The partnership with the Guangzhou-based carrier also allows Emirates’ passengers to enjoy seamless connectivity on domestic flights within China, adding eight new destinations to its global network. The Chinese cities covered by the codeshare agreement include Fuzhou, Chongqing, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Nanjing and Xi ‘an during the initial phase of the partnership, subject to necessary government approvals.
Passengers travelling from China will have more choice and travel seamlessly with minimum connection times, when flying to destinations in Emirates’ Middle East network such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Muscat, Kuwait and Cairo. The codeshare agreement also includes flights to African destinations such as Seychelles and Lagos, operated by Emirates.
With the UAE’s visa-free policy for Chinese visitors, passengers can also enjoy hassle-free stopovers in Dubai, and experience what the city has to offer before flying to their final destinations. The codeshare partnership will provide customers with the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights using one reservation, and a smooth ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage check experience during the entire journey.
Emirates currently has codeshare agreements in place with 23 partners around the world. With the new codeshare partnership with China Southern Airlines, Emirates customers will be able to enjoy connectivity to over 160 destinations in Asia Pacific. Emirates operates twice-daily flights to both Beijing and Shanghai in addition to one daily flight to Guangzhou, all operated by the iconic Emirates A380 aircraft.