China Airlines joins SkyTeam

China Airlines, the flag carrier of Taiwan, has formally announced the start of its joining process leading to full entry into the SkyTeam Airline Alliance. The process is expected to be completed by mid-2011.

The announcement comes just a few months after China Eastern signed an agreement to join SkyTeam. The addition of China Airlines to the alliance complements the well anchored position of China Southern, solidifying the unrivalled presence of SkyTeam in Greater China. With China Airlines as a partner, SkyTeam customers will benefit from further improved access to SkyTeam’s extensive Asia Pacific network.

Headquartered in Taipei, China Airlines is the largest airline of Taiwan, home to one of the world’s most dynamic technology-driven economies that also possesses abundant tourism opportunities and booming aviation industry prospects.

During an official ceremony in Taipei, China Airlines’ President Huang-Hsiang Sun, joined the CEOs and representatives of SkyTeam member airlines in signing an Adherence Agreement, thus formally starting the process of China Airlines joining SkyTeam. The signing ceremony took place at National Concert Hall in Taipei, witnessed by Chairman of the SkyTeam Governing Board Leo van Wijk, Managing Director of SkyTeam Marie-Joseph Malé and Chairman Liu Shaoyong of future member China Eastern.

 “The inclusion of China Airlines in our network will solidify SkyTeam’s unrivalled presence in the Greater China market, a region that continues to experience significant economic growth,” said Leo van Wijk. “In addition to the services provided by our existing members, China Airlines offers an extensive cross-strait operation, linking Taiwan to multiple major destinations in China. Also, Taipei will serve as an alternative Asian hub with services to and from key business destinations in the region.”

"Joining SkyTeam is a long-term development strategy for China Airlines, and for many years we have been actively promoting various types of cooperation with SkyTeam member airlines with this objective in mind. As the first Taiwanese airline to join the world-class alliance, our strategic target is to continuously strengthen profitability and boost international market competitiveness," said China Airlines Chairman Philip Wei.
 
Mr. Malé added: “We are honored and delighted to welcome China Airlines in our midst. We now enter a phase where China Airlines will work closely together with the current members to establish bilateral agreements and fulfill the more than 100 membership requirements We rely in particular on our Asian members to use their advanced experience in the alliance to guide China Airlines in the joining process and expect our newest member to effectively join SkyTeam around mid 2011”.