Qantas strengthens “vital” China links

Qantas strengthens “vital” China links
By Anne Majumdar


Shorter transit times, more codeshare options and greater frequent flyer benefits have been highlighted as the main benefits for those flying between Australia and China with Qantas and China Eastern from November 1.

Under the expanded strategic partnership, announced in November last year, the airlines will also co-locate their operations in Terminal 1 at Shangai Pudong International Airport from October 25, streamlining check-in facilities, improving connection times and providing customers with access to China Eastern’s new lounge.

Qantas customers will also have new travel options between Australia and Shanghai, including codeshare bookings on China Eastern’s double daily services between Sydney and Shanghai as well as its double daily services between Melbourne and Shanghai.

The changes come in response to the rise in passengers travelling between the two countries, according to Qantas International chief executive Gareth Evans.

“Our goal is to be the first choice for travel between Australia and China and customers will enjoy significant customer benefits as a result of the expanded partnership,” he said.

“Aviation is opening up new travel and business opportunities at a time when the Australia-China relationship is more important that ever to both countries.”

Co-location will enable customers to connect “more easily” to 67 Qantas codeshare services operated by China Eastern. That number includes new destinations such as Changchun, Jinan and Wuhan, taking Qantas’ intra-China offering from 11 to 18 markets.

The expansion comes at an “exciting time” for Qantas International, according to Evans.

“We’re using our aircraft more efficiently and adding capacity to meet demand for travel to destinations across Asia-Pacific, while expanding strategic partnerships to give our customers a bigger network,” he said.

“Working more closely with China Eastern is a vital part of this strategy.”

 

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