Juneyao Airlines (Shanghai Hongqiao) will join the Star Alliance Connecting Partner Model (CPM) programme next year, thereby allowing it to enter into bilateral commercial agreements with select member airlines.

Under the partnership concept, Low Cost Carriers (LCC) and hybrid airlines can connect to the Star Alliance network without becoming a member themselves. In Juneyao’s case, Star Alliance Gold members will benefit from lounge access, fast-track security, additional baggage allowance, and priority check-in, boarding, standby and baggage delivery.

“Work has now commenced to establish the necessary technology and commercial links which will allow Juneyao Airlines to begin serving Star Alliance connecting passengers sometime during the second quarter 2017," a statement said.

Star Alliance unveiled its CPM concept in December last year, with South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) budget subsidiary Mango Airlines (MNO, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) as its launch customer. India's Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) and Alliance Air (India) (9I, Delhi International) have also considered signing up.