Exclusive | Oneworld confirms it has sounded out China Southern Airlines to join the alliance, potentially giving Cathay Pacific regional competition
- Rob Gurney, CEO of the air carrier’s alliance, tells the Post it has spoken to the mainland Chinese airline, but formal talks have yet to take place
- China Southern would provide the alliance with greater access to mainland China than Cathay, but the Hong Kong carrier could veto the move, say analysts
The courtship of another Chinese carrier to enter the same global airline group as Cathay Pacific Airways might pay off, as Oneworld acknowledged it could deepen its coverage in China, the alliance boss said in an interview with the Post.
Rob Gurney, the CEO of Oneworld, said it had yet to start formal talks with the mainland’s biggest airline China Southern Airlines, after the group’s biannual board meeting in New York last week. The alliance indicated it had spoken to the carrier but not since it announced its exit from the rival Skyteam alliance.
“There are no formal discussions underway with China Southern,” Gurney said, despite the alliance’s obvious lack of presence in mainland China, the world’s second-biggest air travel market, unlike the rival Skyteam and Star Alliance groups.
“There are still areas where we can potentially deepen our coverage, there is no doubt about that. We are talking to potential members to help meet some of that,” he said. This has meant its members have sought deals outside its core grouping, such as Qantas pairing with Skyteam’s China Eastern.
There are still areas where we can potentially deepen our coverage, there is no doubt about that. We are talking to potential members to help meet some of that
