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29-Nov-2018 9:42 AM

American Airlines and China Southern Airlines to Expand Partnership

Direct News Source

American Airlines and China Southern Airlines to Expand Partnership

American Airlines and China Southern Airlines are taking steps to strengthen their partnership with a significant expansion of codeshare cooperation and the launch of reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and lounge access. The carriers announced the news today at a signing ceremony in Guangzhou, China.

"We are very pleased with the progress we have made so far in our newly formed relationship with the largest airline in Asia," said Robert Isom, President of American Airlines. "We look forward to building on our successes with a significant expansion of our codeshare cooperation and the addition of reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and lounge access. With the opening of Beijing Daxing International Airport in 2019, and the ability to cooperate fully with China Southern, we are incredibly excited about American's future in the Chinese market."

"We are delighted to see our partnership with American Airlines being further strengthened," said Zhang Lin, Assistant President of China Southern Air Holding Company Limited. "The advanced cooperation between China Southern and American will help both of us extend networks and meet passenger demands through sharing resources. Our cooperation is market- and passenger-oriented, founded on a win-win relationship. It corresponds to the need for frequent and intimate exchange between China and the U.S. and is in line with our value proposition of customer first. Our partnership with American is an important move in China Southern's initiative to build new international relationships."

American and China Southern's reciprocal codeshare, which launched in January, gives American's customers better access to interior China and China Southern's customers better access to the U.S. Pending regulatory approvals, the carriers will expand the codeshare in early 2019 as follows:

American expansion on China Southern:

China Southern expansion on American:

Long-haul codeshare

American and China Southern will also launch reciprocal frequent flyer benefits early next year, giving customers the ability to earn and redeem miles on the other carrier's flights. American Airlines AAdvantage® members will be able to earn and redeem miles throughout China Southern's network of more than 3,000 daily flights to 224 destinations in 40 countries and regions. China Southern Sky Pearl Club members will have the ability to earn and redeem miles throughout American's network of 6,700 daily flights to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries.

Additionally, American and China Southern will begin offering reciprocal lounge access next year. Eligible American Airlines customers will have access to selected China Southern Sky Pearl Lounges throughout Asia and eligible China Southern customers will have access to selected American Airlines lounges around the world.

The new codeshare routes will be available for sale in due course with the first day of travel expected in early 2019. The reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and lounge access will also take effect early next year.

This press release was sourced from American Airlines on 28-Nov-2018.