SkyTeam continues its China expansion apace, with Xiamen Airlines joining the alliance.
The airline become the 19th member of SkyTeam.
Xiamen Airlines operates over 220 routes from its main hubs in Xiamen, Fuzhou and Hangzhou, covering the China area as well as SouthEast and NorthEast Asia. The airline itself is an all-Boeing shop, operating 86 aircraft – Boeing 737’s and Boeing 757’s, with plans to purchase Boeing 787’s for intercontinental expansion over the next few years and Boeing 737-MAX’s in course.
Plans are also afoot to purchase China’s own indigenous ARJ-21 and integrate it into their fleet.
Xiamen Airlines membership of SkyTeam shouldn’t really be a surprise, as it is owned by China Southern Airlines.
In many ways, SkyTeam has Greater China Area sewen up, as it has China Eastern (who took over Shanghai Airlines) and China Southern Airlines (as well as Tapei’s China Airlines). Oneworld’s sole presence is Cathay Pacific/DragonAir, whilst Star Alliance has Air China.