KLM Continues to Expand Chinese Partnerships

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is intensifying its partnership with China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, according to a special agreement signed in Shanghai last week.

The agreement cementing the partnership was signed between Pieter Elbers, KLM CEO; Che Shanglun, Chairman & CEO Xiamen Airlines; and Ren Jidong, Executive Vice President of China Southern Airlines.Τhe Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment Wilma Mansveld attended the ceremony.

“KLM has invested in its relations with China for many years”, Mr. Elbers said.

Effective July 26, KLM’s joint venture with China Southern Airlines will expand with the addition of another Skyteam member in Greater China — Xiamen Airlines. As of July, Xiamen Airlines will operate three roundtrips a week between Xiamen and Amsterdam, in addition to the thrice weekly service currently operated by KLM. This brings the number of return flights KLM and Xiamen Airlines operate together on this route to six.

“The addition of Xiamen Airlines to our partnerships will further strengthen our position in China”, KLM’s CEO added.

KLM and China Southern Airlines have worked together on the Amsterdam-Beijing route since 1996. Together the two airlines 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.