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A new airport in Beijing, once up and running in 2019, will serve as the state airline’s second hub flying almost 50 million passengers in and out of China, even more than the 30 million the carrier flew in 2016 from its home base of Guangzhou in southern China, Tan said. China Southern plans to operate 250 aircraft out of the new airport, and will introduce more U.S. flights along with American Air, he said. Tan’s ambition is part of an ongoing race among China’s top three state carriers to fly profitable routes to the world’s major hubs ranging from New York and Los Angeles to London and Frankfurt. The second Beijing airport will free up more slots for members of the SkyTeam alliance such as China Southern, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Corp. and potentially break the dominance of Beijing-based flag carrier Air China Ltd. in international long-haul flights.
China’s “big three” carriers have forged ties with their U.S. peers in the scramble for more market share. China Southern sold a small stake to American Air earlier this year for USD 200 million, almost two years after Delta Air Lines Inc. bought 3.55 percent of China Eastern for USD 450 million. Air China has a codeshare agreement with its Star Alliance partner United Continental Holdings Inc. In July, China Eastern and Delta each bought 10 percent of Air France-KLM through capital increases totaling 751 million euros (USD 881 million). As the partnership between China Eastern, Delta and Air France-KLM deepened within the SkyTeam alliance, China Southern looked beyond this group for an ally in American Air, which is part of the rival Oneworld association. The move fueled speculation that the Chinese carrier may consider leaving SkyTeam and join Oneworld. Read Original Article |
