Shanghai Airlines
Shanghai Airlines
Along with market leader Air China, China’s young and dynamic carrier Shanghai Airlines is also set on acceding to the Star Alliance. This twofold success, allowing the Star Alliance to gain further ground on the competition, is the result of successful teamwork between Lufthansa, the other members of the Alliance and Star Alliance GmbH.
Lufthansa has nurtured close and successful relations with both Chinese airlines for many years. Early investments served to create and enhance confidence in cooperation. Lufthansa’s close ties with Air China and Shanghai Airlines have helped not least to pave the way for their accession to the Star Alliance.
Boeing 737 of Shanghai Airlines
After its long-standing partnership with Air China, Lufthansa also concluded a codesharing accord with the regional carrier, Shanghai Airlines, in 2004. It will also support both airlines as their mentor in the run-up to their admission to the Star Alliance. With their membership, the world’s biggest airline grouping has pulled off a real coup: Two of the most successful and prestigious airlines in the Chinese market will in future be flying in harness with the Star Alliance. They are based at China’s biggest air traffic hubs in the two major business centres of Beijing und Shanghai.
Their presence in the Star Alliance is enhancing its lead over the competition in the Chinese market. Star Alliance airlines are already offering 964 flights weekly into and and out of China. That total will grow by a further 5,600 flights weekly into, ex and within China following the accession of Air China alone. The admission of Shanghai Airlines will add a further 1,500 flights.
From serving its present 22 destinations, the alliance network will all at once expand its services to another 57 Chinese airports. The Star Alliance partners will also be offering their services jointly when they move in together “under one roof“ at the planned new terminals in Peking and Shanghai.
Seamless, fast and convenient travel is pivotal in the Star Alliance offer to
passengers. With its new Air China und Shanghai Airlines partners, it will extend its lead over competing alliances and especially in China. |
