3 major airline alliances: Love, hate & rivalry in China

On November 15th, 2018, the news released by China Southern Airlines shook the civil aviation industry. As the first Chinese airline to join one of the three major airline alliances, China Southern Airlines officially announced on that day that it would withdraw from the SkyTeam Alliance. In explaining the reasons for withdrawing from the SkyTeam Alliance, China Southern Airlines stated that this decision was "based on the needs of its own development strategy to better adapt to the new trends in the global aviation industry cooperation model." After over a year of preparation, on January 1st, 2020, China Southern Airlines officially parted ways with the SkyTeam Alliance, ending their relationship that had lasted for 12 years, 1 month, and 16 days. As early as November 15th, 2007, China Southern Airlines officially joined the SkyTeam Alliance, becoming the first large-scale airline in China to join one of the three major alliances. At the signing ceremony, Liu Shaoyong, then chairman of China Southern Airlines, also exchanged gifts with Zhao Lianghao, chairman of Korean Air, who represented the SkyTeam Alliance. Less than a month later, on December 12th, an Air China A330 aircraft and a Shanghai Airlines B767 aircraft carrying 19 CEOs of Star Alliance member airlines landed smoothly at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). At the soon-to-be-opened Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport, Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht announced to the attending member airlines of Star Alliance and guests from all sides that Air China and Shanghai Airlines officially joined the Star Alliance. This backgrounder has more.<br/>