China Southern, Qantas sign code-share deal, look to pilot training and cargo co-operation

GUANGZHOU - China Southern Airlines has signed off on a commercial agreement with Qantas covering codeshare flights in both Australia and China – the two airlines are also assessing other areas of potential co-operation, including pilot training assistance from Qantas and cargo opportunities.

Subject to regulatory approval, passengers on China Southern flights into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be able to fly code-share on the Qantas domestic network to seven other Australian destinations, including Cairns, Adelaide and Canberra. Qantas passengers can fly with China Southern from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to its main hub in Guangzhou, then onward to four major Chinese destinations - Xiamen, Kunming, Fuzhou and Urumqi. The new codeshare services are expected to be available for booking and travel from early 2014 (ATI).