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China Southern Wants to Be the World's Largest Airline

June 23, 2019
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3 min read
China Southern Boeing 777-300Er
China Southern Wants to Be the World's Largest Airline
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China Southern Airlines, already China's largest mainland carrier, is looking to move to the top spot in the world over the next three years. And in that attempt, the airline is not looking to join any of the major airline alliances. It recently left SkyTeam and has been rumored to be a candidate for OneWorld before 2021, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

The airline is looking to build agreements with individual airlines, which will allow it much more flexibility in how the airline operates. Wu Guoxiang, senior vice president for International Corporate Relations, told SCMP, "I think it is important to build bilateral cooperation with every carrier that we want, for us to grow, we are the largest carrier in Asia.” Guoxiang went on to say, “In three to five years we will be the largest in the world. We need the flexibility to cooperate the way we want.”

After its departure from SkyTeam, it would seem the airline is looking to forge ahead with its plans to continue its growth, but on its own terms.

The aviation industry is seeing booming growth in Asia with no slow down in sight. By most metrics, including the ones that TPG uses to rank the largest airlines, American Airlines (which happens to own a 2.76% stake in China Southern) is currently the world's largest airline. China Southern in currently ranked number six, but with the expected continued growth in air travel in Asia, the airline's target of being the biggest in the world in the next three to five years is certainly not out of reach.

China Southern isn't the only airline taking notice of the boom in travel in Asia. US-based carriers are looking to increase their presence in the region as well. Recently, American, Delta, Hawaiian and United all got tentative approval for slots at Tokyo-Haneda, giving passengers even more options for travel to and from Asia.

The growth in the region isn't just limited to Japan. The new airport currently being built in Beijing is slated to open later in the year and will be the world's largest single terminal airport.

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Making the move to the top of the pack in size will give China Southern advantages in negotiations with other airlines as it looks to ink agreements outside of an alliance. It remains to be seen just how these agreements will benefit passengers, other than being able to book travel across multiple carriers more easily.

Featured image by Alberto Riva

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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  • Annual Fee is $325.
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