As discussed in the blog and now formally confirmed, the Taiwanese carrier China Airline will join the SkyTeam Alliance – bringing it up to five members in the Asia region.
Skyteam’s other members in the area include Korean Air, China Sothern, China Eastern (including Shanghai Airlines), Vietnam Airlines.
The intention is to for China Airlines join SkyTeam by mid-2011, with codeshares signed, and the provision of a new Asian hub at Taipei, whilst coordinating cross-straight services to China with its fellow SkyTeam members.
Star Alliance is slightly dented in the area with Singapore Airlines, All Nippon, Asiana, and Air China (as Shanghai Airlines will be joining SkyTeam), with Oneworld limping into last place with Cathay Pacific and Dragonair (which are technically the same ownership).
This leave Eva Air in an odd position as it is now on it’s own in Taiwan. How long it can do that is open to question – as well as the alliances that will now be eyeing it carefully….
