Star Alliance touches down in Shanghai
By Brian Straus, ATW Online | May 11, 2006
Shanghai Airlines accepted a formal invitation to join Star Alliance at a ceremony yesterday in Shanghai, becoming the second Chinese carrier to commit itself to a global airline partnership.
China Southern Airlines signed an MOU with SkyTeam two years ago and since then the three alliances have been angling for the best foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing commercial aviation markets. Air China also appears to be on the verge of joining Star.
Shanghai Airlines offers Star a significant presence at its developing hub of Pudong, where a second terminal is under development and scheduled to open in 2008. No official decision has been reported concerning what carriers will operate out of the new facility, but Shanghai Airlines made it clear yesterday that the prospect of consolidating its operations in the market was attractive to Star.
"We should make full use of the airport resources, provide quick and convenient transferring and connecting service, which is called Under One Roof, and offer high-quality service to business passengers," Chairman Zhou Chi said. "We hope that the establishment of a second terminal building in the near future will provide high standard, high quality and high efficiency operating service, thus greatly supporting Star Alliance."
China's first commercial airline following the breakup of CAAC, Shanghai offers a large domestic network to the alliance. It operates a mostly-Boeing fleet of 42 aircraft and flew more than 150 routes at the end of 2005. In addition to its Chinese service, it flies to Japan, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand and operates freighters to Europe. In 2004 it became the first Chinese carrier to receive an IOSA certificate.
"For Star Alliance, this invitation to Shanghai Airlines represents a giant step forward," Star CEO Jaan Albrecht said. "Having a high-quality Chinese carrier the caliber of Shanghai Airlines will add immeasurable value to our network."