NEW DELHI: The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Emirates and Air China marks a significant milestone in their long-standing partnership, aimed at expanding reciprocal interline cooperation.
The agreement, formalised during the 81st Annual General Meeting (IATA AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) in New Delhi, sets a strategic framework to enhance connectivity and operational collaboration between the two airlines.
Since the inception of their partnership 26 years ago, Emirates and Air China have facilitated travel for approximately 18,000 customers through their interline agreement.
The MoU envisions an expansion through reciprocal codeshare arrangements on select routes, enabling each airline to place its code on the other’s flights across key China-UAE trunk routes and beyond, thereby broadening their network reach.
This development promises seamless booking experiences, single ticket itineraries, and enhanced lounge access, significantly benefiting travellers.
Strengthening ties
The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Yan Fei, Air China’s Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, accompanied by senior executives from both sides.
Adnan Kazim said, “Our partnership with Air China commenced 26 years ago, and approximately 18,000 Emirates customers have benefited from the expanded connectivity offered through our interline agreement.
“Building on this success, we’ve recently announced the launch of two new Chinese cities—Shenzhen and Hangzhou—which will strengthen our East Asia operations.”
Knowledge sharing
“Air China highly values the cooperation with Emirates. The signing of this memorandum is an important milestone for the deepening of the cooperation between the two sides,” Yan Fei said.
Moreover, the cooperation extends to cargo operations and frequent flyer programs, aiming to augment the value proposition for both business and leisure travelers. To ensure optimal service, the airlines will explore coordination of flight schedules and adjustments to minimum connecting times, reinforcing customer convenience.
Beyond commercial interests, the partnership seeks to foster collaboration in areas such as revenue management, data analytics, digitalisation, brand management, and the advancement of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) initiatives. Such knowledge sharing underscores their commitment to innovation and sustainability in the aviation sector.
With Emirates scheduled to operate 49 weekly flights to mainland China, including increased services to major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou, the strengthened alliance promises to boost connectivity and economic ties between the UAE and China.
The strategic cooperation exemplifies the forward-looking vision of both carriers to deliver enhanced value to their customers while embracing industry advancements.
