One of the biggest airlines in the world, China Southern Airlines (ZNH) (CSA), announced that the carrier will leave SkyTeam alliance on January 1, 2020. Citing its vision to “enhance global connectivity and create a better life,” China Southern aims to sustain and in some ways, increase connectivity for passengers by creating new partnerships with airlines from other alliances. It was a member of SkyTeam since 2007.
CSA will maintain codeshare partnerships with many of its former SkyTeam partners, including Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, Korean Air and such airlines as Air Europa, which was purchased by International Airlines Group (IAG) (IAG), the crumbling Alitalia and many others.
New relationships were formed as well, as China Southern inked partnerships with six airlines from oneworld, a rivaling airline alliance. In June 2019, the Chinese carrier also joined forces with Emirates, an airline not associated with any alliance.