Vietnam, China Southern Airlines sign comprehensive partnership

Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines signed Thursday an agreement on comprehensive partnership featuring cooperation in commerce, service, technique, and flight experiences.

The two biggest airlines of Vietnam and China will prioritize using each other’s services and products upon thorough assessment of their qualities. They will also cooperate to develop their airport bases into major transportation hubs of the region.

Passengers on routes between Vietnam and China can flexibly book codeshare flights operated by the two carriers.

China Southern Airlines CEO Han Wensheng said the comprehenve cooperation between the two carriers will boost ties between China and member nations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and bring about diversity of options and outstanding experience for global tourists.

In the first half of the year, Vietnam Airlines earned revenues of more than VND30,000 billion ($1.28 billion), double the same period last year.

However, due to high fuel prices and dormancy of many international routes, its losses mounted to over VND5,100 billion ($217.4 million), down more than VND3,000 billion compared to the same period last year.

By June 30, the airline's accumulated loss hit VND28,900 billion ($1.23 billion).