Reach for the Skies – Etihad and China Southern Partner Up for Pioneering New Routes
The two plane giants boast greater cooperation as they sign an MOU together.
Our nation’s favourite airline, Etihad in Abu Dhabi, is now in cahoots with Asia’s largest airline, China Southern. After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to upgrade the experience of all their combined passengers. Eithad recently moved to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) which is the main base for China Southern and post the MOU signing the two airlines will be working together to broaden their global flight plans. Currently they are both limited by their current network, but the intention is to go far beyond – bigger, better, and higher – whilst their passengers can take advantage of excellent and improved services.
Etihad has already been operational in China since 2022, when they announced services to major city Guangzhou Baiyuan. The new MOU additionally includes procurement benefits for services including ground handling, cargo handling, bonded warehousing, catering, maintenance, repair, and overhaul in cities including Guangzhou, Beijing, or Abu Dhabi. This move represents a vast array of new opportunities within the existing airplane supply chain and indicates considerable additional revenues.
Zhang Dongsheng, Deputy Director General, Commercial Steering Committee of China Southern Airlines, said: “The signing of the MOU opens a new chapter of win-win cooperation between the two carriers, which will further strengthen our unique advantages in the hub of Beijing Daxing International Airport, expand our global network and bring more convenience to passengers. China Southern Airlines and Etihad have maintained a good partnership throughout the pandemic and will continue to deepen cooperation and explore more possibilities in the future. We look forward to working with Etihad to build a new model of cooperation, to work side by side, to connect business and procurement opportunities, to engage in dialogue, and embrace the future in an innovative way.”
Mr. Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “This MOU will serve as a platform for a stronger ongoing relationship between the two airlines. Etihad looks forward to working with China Southern Airlines to explore comprehensive and pragmatic ways in which the two carriers can work more closely together, to drive greater value through our unique strengths at Beijing Daxing International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and further extend the reach of our joint network. Advanced cooperation between the two airlines sends a very strong signal to the industry and brings further hope of recovery for the global aviation and travel markets.”
The move is also simultaneous with China’s deepening interest in the Middle East, as they recently brokered an incredible peace deal between KSA and Iran, which have long been feuding as deeply religious sects of Sunni and Shiite Muslims. China is one of Saudi’s biggest oil customers, and this move suggests furthering their interests across the Middle East.
