China Southern to leave Skyteam
Nov 15, 2018, 7:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Skymiles Gold
Posts: 643
China Southern to leave Skyteam
https://onemileatatime.com/china-sou...aving-skyteam/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-c...-idUSKCN1NK0ZS
Can't say I'm surprised by this.
I am interested if DL will allow you to credit flights purchased before today to Skymiles (not that the earning rate is great, but still could be consequential for some).
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-c...-idUSKCN1NK0ZS
Can't say I'm surprised by this.
I am interested if DL will allow you to credit flights purchased before today to Skymiles (not that the earning rate is great, but still could be consequential for some).
Nov 15, 2018, 8:29 am
#3
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
Bummer, but not unexpected.
I wonder if and when this will affect Xiamen Airlines. They’re 55% owned by CZ, so you kind of expect they will follow the mothership, but they may wait to make the move for another year or two until CZ’s new alliance membership is solidified (almost certainly in OneWorld).
This leaves SkyTeam with a gaping hole in South China you can fly an A380 through, although I do agree CZ/MF weren’t really filling that hole well given the limited nature of the partnership. I wonder if HX would be interested in an alliance?
I wonder if and when this will affect Xiamen Airlines. They’re 55% owned by CZ, so you kind of expect they will follow the mothership, but they may wait to make the move for another year or two until CZ’s new alliance membership is solidified (almost certainly in OneWorld).
This leaves SkyTeam with a gaping hole in South China you can fly an A380 through, although I do agree CZ/MF weren’t really filling that hole well given the limited nature of the partnership. I wonder if HX would be interested in an alliance?
Nov 15, 2018, 8:59 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
Nov 15, 2018, 10:05 am
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
Answering my own question, MF is staying for now:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/reut...next-year.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/reut...next-year.html
Xiamen Airlines Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Southern that is also a SkyTeam member, however, has no plans to quit the alliance, Xiamen spokesman Qiu Dapeng said on Thursday.
Nov 15, 2018, 11:00 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,198
Well while their service wasn't exactly great, it is disappointing since that means less options where you can earn miles or use award tickets. Sure DL has China Eastern, but this will leave a good size gap in coverage.
Nov 15, 2018, 10:11 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
Bummer, but not unexpected.
I wonder if and when this will affect Xiamen Airlines. They’re 55% owned by CZ, so you kind of expect they will follow the mothership, but they may wait to make the move for another year or two until CZ’s new alliance membership is solidified (almost certainly in OneWorld).
This leaves SkyTeam with a gaping hole in South China you can fly an A380 through, although I do agree CZ/MF weren’t really filling that hole well given the limited nature of the partnership. I wonder if HX would be interested in an alliance?
I wonder if and when this will affect Xiamen Airlines. They’re 55% owned by CZ, so you kind of expect they will follow the mothership, but they may wait to make the move for another year or two until CZ’s new alliance membership is solidified (almost certainly in OneWorld).
This leaves SkyTeam with a gaping hole in South China you can fly an A380 through, although I do agree CZ/MF weren’t really filling that hole well given the limited nature of the partnership. I wonder if HX would be interested in an alliance?
-AA and CZ can tango to their hearts' delight in Daxing
-Southern China is a pretty easy hole to fill
Nov 16, 2018, 10:34 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/chin...leave-skyteam/
Looks like Xiamen is leaving too.
I don't know if the spokesperson for CZ has all the information, but I hope they didn't jump ship anticipating getting a JV with AA. DOT won't approve any JV's without a full open skies treaty and the US and China don't have one. Now as far as I know that's a guideline, not a law, but I would certainly expect the rule to change or an exception to be made under the current administration.
Looks like Xiamen is leaving too.
I don't know if the spokesperson for CZ has all the information, but I hope they didn't jump ship anticipating getting a JV with AA. DOT won't approve any JV's without a full open skies treaty and the US and China don't have one. Now as far as I know that's a guideline, not a law, but I would certainly expect the rule to change or an exception to be made under the current administration.
Nov 16, 2018, 10:39 am
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/chin...leave-skyteam/
Looks like Xiamen is leaving too.
I don't know if the spokesperson for CZ has all the information, but I hope they didn't jump ship anticipating getting a JV with AA. DOT won't approve any JV's without a full open skies treaty and the US and China don't have one. Now as far as I know that's a guideline, not a law, but I would certainly expect the rule to change or an exception to be made under the current administration.
Looks like Xiamen is leaving too.
I don't know if the spokesperson for CZ has all the information, but I hope they didn't jump ship anticipating getting a JV with AA. DOT won't approve any JV's without a full open skies treaty and the US and China don't have one. Now as far as I know that's a guideline, not a law, but I would certainly expect the rule to change or an exception to be made under the current administration.
Nov 16, 2018, 11:15 am
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
In fact, competition from CZ could be a reason CX's thinking is changing on the topic. CX is losing money hand over fist, and part of the problem is long haul competition (especially from Hong Kong Airlines). Bringing CZ into the OneWorld fold could open the gates to a bit of coordination so they don't step on each other's toes, and can focus instead on squeezing out HX and other low cost interlopers.
Remember, there are central planners for the aviation industry in China, and diversifying their three major airlines across the three major alliances has to be an attractive goal for them. While CX is still a Hong Kong airline and the Hong Kong aviation market is still free, they operate a lot of routes to the mainland, and there could certainly be some behind the scenes favors on offer to convince CX to cooperate if they really want to get China Southern into OneWorld.
Nov 16, 2018, 12:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: DL; AA; UA; CO; LHLX; NZ; QR; EK; BA
Posts: 7,408
Huh. That article doesnt actually quote anyone saying Xiamen leaving. I mean, we all assume it's going to happen at some point if not immediately, but I wonder if it's just the author assuming it will happen because it's a CZ subisidary, or if it's actually sourced with a statement from a spokesperson. (I ask because Reuters specifically reached out to a Xiamen spokesperson and was explicitly told they're staying for the foreseeable future, so somebody here on one side or the other is confused..)