Qantas and China Eastern Airlines announce partnership; may lead to Perth-Shanghai flights
David Eyre 17 November 2014
Qantas and China Eastern have announced a new partnership arrangement, similar to the arrangements between Qantas and Emirates.
Subject to regulatory approval, the five-year agreement should commence in mid-2015.
The airlines intend to open up new routes between Australia and mainland China, such as Perth to Shanghai.
The agreement includes co-location of operations in Terminal 1 at Shanghai International Airport, which will cut transit times and enable a better range of onward connections. It will also involve coordinating schedules to improve connections, sharing premium lounges, and streamlined check-in processes.
Qantas has had a codeshare arrangement with China Eastern since 2008.
The agreement was signed by Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and China Eastern Chairman Liu Shaoyong at Parliament House, Canberra, at a ceremony attended by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. The agreement followed the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between China and Australia during the G20 Summit.
