China Southern orders ten more A330-300s

Oneworld has no plans to add China Southern Airlines (CZ, Guangzhou) as a member carrier, alliance CEO Ron Gurney told Air Transport World.

The Chinese carrier left Skyteam effective January 1, 2019. It said it wanted to focus on an "independent" development strategy. Oneworld was subsequently reported as courting the carrier although no formal talks were ever confirmed.

Oneworld currently does not have a mainland China member carrier, although Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int'l) is a member of the alliance. The Hong Kongese carrier is 29.99%-owned by Air China (CA, Beijing Capital), itself a member of Star Alliance. The third of the large mainland Chinese carriers, China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao), continues to be a member of Skyteam.

Oneworld members Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad Int'l) and American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) are shareholders of China Southern, holding a 5% and 2.7% stake, respectively.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has outlined its proposed Beijing Daxing Int'l International Airport hub coordination plans ahead of the airfield's anticipated opening in September this year.

The regulator said in a statement on Friday, January 4, that in terms of Chinese airlines, China Southern Airlines and its affiliated carriers, China Eastern Airlines and its affiliated carriers, and Capital Airlines (China) and China United Airlines would be required to transfer to Beijing Daxing International Airport.

However, Air China and other China National Aviation Holdings-affiliated carriers, along with Hainan Airlines and Grand China Air will be required to remain at Beijing Capital Airport.

Although other Chinese carriers have been given the choice as to which airport they wish to serve, those that have already committed to establishing bases at Beijing's new international airport include Juneyao Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Donghai Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Okay Airways. China Postal Airlines can operate out of either hub but has already announced plans to develop...