XIAMEN, China, 24 Nov. 2012. Xiamen Airlines has joined SkyTeam, a global airline alliance, as its 19th member. Xiamen Airlines is also the fourth member from Greater China. The airline strengthens SkyTeam's footprint in China and its overall position in the Greater China Region by adding three new hubs, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Hangzhou, along with a domestic and growing international network.
Xiamen Airlines is China's sixth largest carrier. The airline flies more than 15 million passengers annually to more than 50 cities including Macau, Hong Kong and Taipei. Founded in 1984, it is headquartered in the city of Xiamen in the province of Fujian.
Xiamen Airlines' international network includes Southeast and Northeast Asia and the airline has announced plans to launch flights to Europe, North America and Australia by 2014 after the introduction of the Boeing 787. SkyTeam membership offers Xiamen Airlines' customers connectivity on international routes from China operated by other alliance members. This includes carriers from the region such as China Airlines, China Eastern and China Southern, and nine additional SkyTeam airlines: Aeromexico, Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Delta, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines.
Xiamen Airlines has started rolling out SkyPriority, SkyTeam priority airport services for SkyTeam Elite Plus, first and business class passengers worldwide. Effective immediately, Xiamen Airlines' customers will be able to earn and redeem miles on services operated by all SkyTeam member airlines. Members of other SkyTeam airlines' frequent flyer programs can also earn and redeem miles when flying on Xiamen Airlines-operated flights.
SkyTeam passengers traveling to China will be able to fly on Xiamen Airlines flights as part of SkyTeam's go round the world and go greater china passes.
