China Southern Airlines (China Southern) will join SkyTeam before the end of the year, the first Chinese airline to join an international airline alliance, as announced by Liu Shaoyong, general manager of China Southern.

Li Jian, vice director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) told that China Southern's move shows that China's airlines are upgrading their management and service quality in accordance with international standards.

Liu said to meet SkyTeam's requirements; China Southern has spent the last ten months upgrading its service facilities, standards and procedures. In June 2006, China Southern signed a GAAAA agreement (an agreement to observe relevant rules) with SkyTeam.

Airline experts said, as China's number one passenger carrier, China Southern will be able to offer passengers more convenient services after joining SkyTeam.