Shenzhen Airlines Joins Star Alliance

Alliance Expands in China

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 29, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Shenzhen Airlines today became the latest carrier to join the Star Alliance network. At a ceremony held at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Mark Schwab, CEO Star Alliance, welcomed the airline into the family on behalf on the Alliance's Chief Executive Board (CEB).

"Shenzhen Airlines is China's fifth largest carrier and strengthens the Star Alliance presence in China and across Asia. Our customers now benefit from improved access throughout the economically important Pearl River Delta and across southern China. Shenzhen Airlines at the same time gains access to a global network with enhanced benefits for its passengers; truly a win-win situation," said Mark Schwab.

Air Canada is a founding member of the Star Alliance. For the summer of 2013 it is increasing its service to Asia adding a new non-stop route between Toronto and Seoul and adding seven weekly departures to Beijing from Toronto and Vancouver, and upgrading its Calgary-Tokyo Narita route to provide daily service. With the additional flights, Air Canada will operate 11 daily departures to Asia.

Adding Shenzhen Airlines to the network is part of Star Alliance's strategy of improving access to current and future growth markets, thus providing the international traveller with more destinations and flights. In the case of China, the foundation for this strategy was set many years ago, by those Star Alliance member carriers who have been successfully serving this market for several decades. In December 2007 the Alliance added China's Flag carrier Air China to the network.

Feng Gang, the president of Shenzhen Airlines said: "Today is filled with joy for all of us at Shenzhen Airlines. After 16 months of integration work, we have become a Star Alliance member. We know that today no single airline alone can tend to the needs of the international traveler. By joining Star Alliance we can now offer our customers global reach, while at the same time placing Shenzhen firmly on the map of world-wide air travel. We are proud to proclaim that Shenzhen Airport, serving the 4^th largest city in China, is now the newest Star Alliance Hub, from which we will make our mark not only in China, but across the Asia-Pacific region."

Air China Chairman Wang Chengshun said: "As Shenzhen Airlines' mentor, we are delighted to see that Shenzhen Airlines in the last 20 years has achieved substantial growth. We believe that Shenzhen Airlines will leverage alliance resources to improve its own competitiveness, and to realise its strategic target of being a large network carrier covering Asian and intercontinental destinations with its hub in Shenzhen".

As a Star Alliance member, Shenzhen Airlines offers its customers access to a global network, along with seamless travel and enhanced frequent flyer benefits.

The airline adds some 400 daily flights to 70 destinations to the Star Alliance network. Among these are five new destinations in China: Juzhou (Zhejiang Province), Linyi, Qinhuangdao, Shijiazhuang, and Zhoushan. In addition to improving connectivity from its home base in Shenzhen, international passengers benefit from a wider choice of transfer flights in China when connection via the international airports in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai - Pudong. As part of seamless travel customer promise, Shenzhen Airlines offers through check-in for passengers connecting to and from other Star Alliance member airlines flights. On a global basis, the 27 Star Alliance member carriers now offer more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,329 destinations in 194 countries.

Shenzhen Airlines' PhoenixMiles Frequent Flyer (FFP) members can now collect and redeem miles on the entire Star Alliance network. By the same token, the FFP members of all other Star Alliance member carriers now receive mileage credits for eligible flights on Shenzhen Airlines and can redeem miles for travel on the Chinese airline. In addition, miles credited for flights on Shenzhen Airlines count towards achieving Star Alliance Gold and Silver Status. This entitles customers to enhanced benefits when travelling on the Star Alliance network, which include among others, increased luggage allowance as well as access to more than 1,000 lounges for Gold Card holders.

Star Alliance offers numerous fare products for both corporate and leisure customers and Shenzhen Airlines now sells and participates in a selection of these. In view of the strong business community located in Shenzhen Airline's catchment area, the Star Alliance Corporate Plus product - which allows corporate clients to obtain corporate deals for travel on the Star Alliance network via one member airline - will enhance the carrier's proposition to this market segment.
For the Conventions and Meetings market segment, the tailor-made Star Alliance Conventions Plus and Meetings Plus products will increase in attractiveness, as organisers and delegates can now include Shenzhen Airlines in their travel planning. Moreover it allows easier access to the Pearl River Delta as a meeting and conventions location.

Flights operated by Shenzhen Airlines can now be booked as part of the following Star Alliance fares: Round-the-World, Circle Pacific, Asia Airpass and China Airpass.

About Star Alliance:

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognised by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, TACA Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAM Airlines, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. EVA Air has been announced as future member. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,329 airports in 194 countries.

About Shenzhen Airlines:

Shenzhen Airlines Co., Ltd, was founded in November 1992 and started operations on September 17 of the following year. With Air China and Shenzhen International Total Logistics (Shenzhen) Co, Ltd as its major shareholders, Shenzhen Airlines focuses on the business of passenger, cargo and mail transportation. Up to January 2011, Shenzhen Airlines owns a fleet of more than 100 passenger and cargo aircraft which consists of Boeing 747s and 737s, and Airbus A320s and A319s, that are flying on over 135 domestic and international routes. According to Shenzhen Airlines' development blueprint, it will expand its fleet to 170 passenger aircraft by the end of 2015. It also plans to introduce wide-body aircraft in due course. The company will forge itself into a well-known national carrier with its independent brand among competitors in Asia-Pacific region. In future, its service network will extend across Asia and other continents.

SOURCE: STAR ALLIANCE