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 International) 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 International) and American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) are shareholders of China Southern, holding a 5% and 2.7% stake, respectively.