Emirates and Air China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their longstanding partnership, aiming to boost connectivity, cooperation, and customer experience across both airlines’ networks.
The agreement was signed during the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in New Delhi by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Yan Fei, Air China’s Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, alongside senior executives from both carriers.
The MoU sets the stage for a potential reciprocal codeshare on select routes, allowing each airline to place its code on the other’s flights. This would apply not only to China–UAE trunk routes but also to additional destinations beyond Beijing and Dubai.
“This partnership began 26 years ago and has benefited around 18,000 Emirates customers through enhanced connectivity,”
said Kazim.
“Our recently announced services to Shenzhen and Hangzhou will further strengthen our presence in East Asia.”
Air China’s Yan Fei called the MoU a key milestone in deepening the cooperation between the two airlines, underlining the strategic value of the partnership.
The agreement also includes plans to collaborate on cargo operations, frequent flyer programmes, and customer experience enhancements. These may include coordinated flight schedules, streamlined booking processes, and shared lounge access.
Both carriers will also work together on areas such as revenue management, digitalisation, data analytics, brand development, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), reinforcing their commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Starting 30 July, Emirates will operate 49 weekly flights to mainland China, including services to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
