Country for PR: China
Contributor: Xinhua News Agency
Monday, October 21 2019 - 22:01
AsiaNet
China Eastern, Virgin Atlantic, Air France and KLM Annouce Intention to Launch a Joint Venture
SHANGHAI, Oct. 21, 2019 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

On October 16th, China Eastern has announced its intention to enter into a 
joint venture with Virgin Atlantic, Air France and KLM, providing more valuable 
and attractive joint commercial propositions for customers between Europe and 
China.       

China Eastern currently has joint venture with Air France and KLM by working 
together on a portfolio of flights between China and Paris, Amsterdam. With 
Virgin Atlantic joining the existing partnership between China Eastern, Air 
France and KLM, the enlarged cooperation will offer strengthened customer 
benefits including increased travel options and optimized connectivity across 
Europe and China,further facilitated by a developed joint network, as well as 
competitive joint commercial propositions. 

The China to United Kingdom markets are expected to be pivotal at a time where 
China Eastern and Virgin Atlantic services linking London to Shanghai are part 
of the mutualized offer. China Eastern plans to seek to codeshare for the first 
time on Virgin Atlantic services between London and Shanghai. This will open up 
a range of customer benefits, including the opportunity for customers to earn 
and redeem miles across both carriers on flights between China and United 
Kingdom.

The announcement reaffirms China Eastern's commitment to the European market, 
which will inject new vitality into her international development, network 
construction and service improvement and will also contribute to the  
internationalization of China's civil aviation and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Tian Liuwen, EVP China Eastern Group commented:

"China Eastern and Air France-KLM have maintained a long-term and stable 
strategic cooperation, which have provided a strong support for each other's 
services between China and Europe. With Virgin Atlantic's joining,the 
cooperation will develop to a higher level enabling us to deliver more quality 
products and services for customers between China and Europe."

About China Eastern

Headquartered in Shanghai, China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd (CEAH) is one of 
the three major air transportation groups in China and could be traced back to 
the first squadron established in January, 1957 in Shanghai.

By now, total asset of CEAH has reached over RMB 350 billion. CEAH continues to 
promote industrial transformation and upgrading and strives to build '3+5' 
industrial structure layout, focusing on three pillar industries: full service, 
low cost and logistics and reinforced by five-industry synergy: MRO, Air 
Catering, technological innovation, finance and industrial investment.

As the core business of CEAH, China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. (CEA) was the 
first Chinese airline to be listed on New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai stock 
markets in 1997. It operates a modern fleet of 750 passenger and cargo 
aircraft, which is one of the youngest fleets in the world. It has the largest 
and leading wide-body fleet with internet access. CEA is the first airline in 
China to allow the use of mobile phones and other portable devices.

As a member of SkyTeam Alliance, CEA has extended its flight network from its 
core hub Shanghai to 1,150 cities in 175 countries via close cooperation with 
SkyTeam Alliance member airlines. It serves over 1.3 million travelers annually 
and ranks top 10 in the world. Eastern Miles members can enjoy the membership 
rights of SkyTeam's 19 airlines and more than 750 airport VIP lounges worldwide.

China Eastern is committed to creating wonderful journey experiences for 
passengers around the world with "accurate, delicate and precise" service. In 
recent years, China Eastern Airlines has won awards both at home and abroad in 
the field of operation quality, service experience, CSR, etc., including the 
Diamond Flight Safety Award by CAAC -- highest award of its kind in China, 
eight consecutive years of Top 50 Most Valuable Chinese Brands by WPP, and four 
consecutive years nomination of "Global Brand Value 500" by Brand Finance.

Official website: www.ceair.com;
Hotline: +86 (95530)

Schedules

China Eastern- Air France-KLM's current Joint Venture schedules (Summer 2019 
Season) are as follows:

-- China Eastern:

- twice-daily frequencies between Shanghai - Pudong and Paris - Charles de 
Gaulle

- 4-weekly frequencies between Shanghai - Pudong and Amsterdam - Schiphol

- 3-weekly frequencies between Kunming and Paris - Charles de Gaulle

- 3-weekly frequencies between Qingdao and Paris - Charles de Gaulle

-- Air France:

- twice-daily frequencies between Paris - Charles de Gaulle and Shanghai - 
Pudong

- 3-weekly frequencies (4-weekly in peak periods) between Paris - Charles de 
Gaulle and Wuhan

-- KLM: 12-weekly frequencies between Amsterdam - Schiphol and Shanghai - 
Pudong.

Services (Summer 2019 Season)between London and Shanghai by China Eastern and 
Virgin Atlantic are as follows:

-- China Eastern:

- Daily service from Shanghai - Pudong to London Heathrow 

- - 3-weekly frequencies from Shanghai - Pudong to London - Gatwick (To be 
changed to daily service from Winter 2019 Season)


-- Virgin Atlantic:

- Daily service to Shanghai - Pudong from London - Heathrow.

Source: China Eastern

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   Caption: The signing ceremony

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   Caption: The signing ceremony