According to the latest Scheduled Passengers Carried Rankings released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), China Southern Airlines Company Limited ranks No. 3 in the world and No. 1 in Asia for carrying 80.54 million passengers with a fleet of 444 aircraft in 2011. In addition, China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited ranks No. 5 in the world with a passenger traffic volume of 53.933 million in 2011.

As the two "national" teams in the Chinese civil aviation industry, the two airlines have been striving for rapid development and high-quality services.

Recently, SkyTeam, a global airline alliance, along with its members China Southern and China Eastern, signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing. According to the agreement, the four parties will further work together on acquiring favorable policies, expanding air routes, optimizing operation procedures and promoting services. The initiatives planned at Beijing airport include "SkyPriority", "SkyPort" and "SkyTransfer" that will enhance route network, optimize processes and improve the SkyTeam customers' airport experience when transiting in Beijing.