Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) has signed a new five-year agreement with China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao) aimed at deepening commercial cooperation on flights between Australia and China.
Signed in Canberra by Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and China Eastern Chairman Liu Shaoyong, the agreement is designed to complement the Qantas-Emirates partnership for Europe, Middle East and North Africa and the Qantas-American Airlines partnership for the US.
"Under the agreement, the airlines will deliver substantial benefits for customers and support the growing trade, tourism and corporate travel links between Australia and China," a joint press release said. "Through the new partnership, the airlines hope to ultimately open up new routes between Australia and mainland China, such as Brisbane International and Perth International to Shanghai Pudong."
Subject to Australian and Chinese regulatory approval, it is anticipated that the joint agreement will commence in mid-2015.
China is now Australia's largest two-way trading partner in goods and services, its largest goods export destination and its largest source of merchandise imports.
