Two of China’s biggest carriers, Air China and Shanghai Airlines, have joined the Star Alliance, swelling the airline group to 19 carriers and opening its benefits to millions of Chinese travellers.
The pair were welcomed in a ceremony at Beijing Airport’s new Terminal 3 that will house alliance members such as Lufthansa, SAS and United Airlines under one roof.
UK agents will be able to arrange interline ticketing for clients to China with these airlines as well as with Air China, which serves Heathrow-Beijing.
Star Alliance chief executive Jaan Albrecht dismissed the suggestion that alliances benefit airlines more than passengers.
“We have integrated frequent flyer programmes across all our members and don’t want to be an alliance only on paper,” he said. “Clients will be able to check-in [in Europe] and transfer through Beijing or Shanghai.”
Lufthansa chief executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber said: “It is a sign that China is such a dynamic country that we have two carriers joining at once.”
The alliance puts the Star Alliance ahead of rivals One World, which includes British Airways, and SkyTeam – with Beijing preparing to host the Olympics next year.
China is now the world’s fourth largest economy and boasts the fastest-growing market in air travel.
Albrecht said Star members would account for almost 50% of the air traffic at Beijing.
Air China operates a fleet of more than 210 aircraft, with 75 international route and is China’s biggest carrier. Although state-owned it is listed on the London Stock Exchange as well as the Hong Kong and Shanghaimarkets.
Shanghai Airlines dominates traffic at the key finance and business centre of Shanghai and is owned by the regional government.