China Airlines forms regional alliance with mainland Chinese SkyTeam members

China Airlines and fellow mainland China SkyTeam Alliance members China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines formed (03-Jan-2013) a new regional alliance on 03-Jan-2013, enhancing the carriers' competitiveness in the Greater China region. The alliance will include cooperation in the carriers' respective FFPs, codeshares as well as airport lounge access, which is expected to benefit around 460,000 member passengers. China Airlines said the alliance will cover 41 cross-Strait destinations with 270 cross-Strait flights per week, which means that one in two flights between Taiwan and China will be provided by members of the alliance. The alliance members will also provide 280 cross-Strait round-trip flights via Hong Kong per week, which will challenge Hong Kong-based carriers including Cathay Pacific in the cross-Strait market. Xiamen Airlines president and CEO Che Shanglun, as quoted by CNA, added, "A greater connection among us could attract western passengers because more flight choices will be available". Meanwhile, China Airlines president Sun Hung-hsiang told Taipei Times that the alliance could offer more services in the future, following the platform established by the four airlines maturing. [more - original PR - Chinese]