NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
China Northern Airlines and Xinjiang Airlines have begun operating all domestic services under the China Southern Airlines name, after the major carrier launched an ambitious programme to integrate the two into its own operation.
China Northern and Xinjiang are now using China Southern's "CZ" flight code for all domestic flights, and the changes will be applied to international flights from 30 March. They have started using China Southern's transport vouchers and their aircraft are to be painted in China Southern colours.
China Southern has separately absorbed the frequent-flier programmes (FFP) of China Northern and Xinjiang into its operation. The carrier says its Sky Pearl Club FFP now has over 1.7 million members.
"This unified flight code usage marks another step forward by the China Southern Air Holding Company in the integration of all three carriers into the 'family'," says China Southern.
"China Northern Airlines' code CJ and Xinjiang Airlines' code XO have faded into the annals of China's domestic aviation history."
Chinese regulatory authorities have been calling for consolidation in the local airline sector for years and in October the state council, the country's cabinet, approved the takeovers from other state bodies of China Northern and Xinjiang by China Southern's 65% owner, China Southern Air Holding.
At the same time, the state council approved the merger of Air China with China National Aviation and China Southwest Airlines, and the takeover by China Eastern Airlines' parent CE Group of China Northwest Airlines and Yunnan Airlines. China Eastern had already taken over Great Wall Airlines.
China Southern is expected to take over ownership of the assets of China Northern and Xinjiang from its parent in the coming years.
Source: Flight International
