Why are there so many Chinese Airlines in SkyTeam? There are 3 - China Eastern, Southern, and Xiamen Air, while oneworld doesn't have any (Cathay doesn't count).
Really just China Eastern and China Southern (Xiamen is 51% owned by Southern)... All comes down to politics.
Cathay didn't really want anyone, would prefer people to fly via HKG and onwards with Dragon. Air China (Star) and Cathay (oneworld) also own cross stakes in each other further complicating matters.
And until recently none of the Chinese airlines have been anywhere close to oneworld standards.
Sky Team is the "left-over" alliance. And I suspect the terms of membership in Sky Team is a lot more relaxed than OW or Star.
Although I think it would be interesting if China Eastern alligned itself with Etihad's guest programme. Etihad should just get on with formalising its alliance. Make Air Berlin, Virgin Australia and Aegean decide and get on with it.
That's the reason SkyTeam is not preferred for Australia travelers. For most locations (even China), OW and *A cover it. Primarily I don't fly China Eastern or Southern unless it is a domestic flight. You can see CX is crowded everyday and packed of China passengers, you know why. (Not mentioning CX is the most expensive carrier out of Australia).
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Why are there so many Chinese Airlines in SkyTeam?
AB__CD
AB__CD
Member since 29 Mar 2014
Total posts 23
Why are there so many Chinese Airlines in SkyTeam? There are 3 - China Eastern, Southern, and Xiamen Air, while oneworld doesn't have any (Cathay doesn't count).
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 835
Really just China Eastern and China Southern (Xiamen is 51% owned by Southern)... All comes down to politics.
Cathay didn't really want anyone, would prefer people to fly via HKG and onwards with Dragon. Air China (Star) and Cathay (oneworld) also own cross stakes in each other further complicating matters.
And until recently none of the Chinese airlines have been anywhere close to oneworld standards.
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
Apart from SQ (*A) and QF's Asian parnter (formally CX-OW), there are no/not many others.
So maybe Skyteam is to carry the "slack/capacity" of the other Asian airlines, that are no in the *A/OW alliance.
Ie, DL is not in *A/OW but is in Skyteam.
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
Sky Team is the "left-over" alliance. And I suspect the terms of membership in Sky Team is a lot more relaxed than OW or Star.
Although I think it would be interesting if China Eastern alligned itself with Etihad's guest programme. Etihad should just get on with formalising its alliance. Make Air Berlin, Virgin Australia and Aegean decide and get on with it.
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 835
Unlikely. Delta took a small stake in China Eastern solidifying it in Skyteam.
Although the first to join, would think China Southern would be the most likely to shift.
Other option would be for Air China/Cathay to merge and move to oneworld, with Southern going to Sky.
But the situation has been this way for almost 10 years with no changes.
Pallydou
Pallydou
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
Member since 02 Jul 2018
Total posts 22
That's the reason SkyTeam is not preferred for Australia travelers. For most locations (even China), OW and *A cover it. Primarily I don't fly China Eastern or Southern unless it is a domestic flight. You can see CX is crowded everyday and packed of China passengers, you know why. (Not mentioning CX is the most expensive carrier out of Australia).