KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is intensifying its partnership with China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.
A special agreement cementing the partnership was signed in Shanghai today in the presence of Wilma Mansveld (Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment), between KLM CEO Pieter Elbers, Mr. Che Shanglun, Chairman & CEO Xiamen Airlines and Ren Jidong Executive Vice President of China Southern Airlines. The ceremony took place during the trade mission led by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Mr. Pieter Elbers said:
KLM has invested in its relations with China for many years. The addition of Xiamen Airlines to our partnerships will further strengthen our position in China.We know Xiamen Airlines to be highly reliable and well-organised with an outstanding product. Effective 26 July 2015, KLM’s joint venture with China Southern Airlines will expand with the addition of another Skyteam member in Greater China-Xiamen Airlines. From this date, Xiamen Airlines will operate three round trips a week between Xiamen and Amsterdam, in addition to the thrice-weekly service currently operated by KLM. This brings the number of return flights both airlines operate together on this route to six.
KLM and China Southern Airlines have worked together on the Amsterdam-Beijing route since 1996. Their cooperation has since steadily evolved into a strategic partnership. Now the Dutch flag carrier serves routes between Amsterdam and mainland China (Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xiamen and together with China Southern Airlines Guangzhou)with a codeshare agreement in 2001 and a Joint Venture Agreement in 2006.
KLM and China Southern Airlines together offer eight non-stop services between Amsterdam and destinations in Greater China, with 57 frequencies a week, and per 26 July 2015 with the addition of Xiamen Airlines 60 frequencies a week. Together Air France and KLM operate nine destinations in Greater-China with 88 frequencies weekly.
The Xiamen Airlines’ flights will be codeshare operated with KLM. KLM and Xiamen Airlines currently have a one-sided codeshare agreement to six destinations in China. Due to the increase in the number of flights between Amsterdam and Xiamen, KLM and Xiamen Airlines will expand their codeshare partnership in China and Europe to 15 destinations. The airlines will also codeshare on the Amsterdam-Xiamen route.