Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines Launch Joint Venture Cooperation
Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines have launched their joint venture (JV) following approvals from the relevant authorities, with the partnership set to take effect on August 1. This marks the first JV between a Chinese airline and a Vietnamese airline, setting a precedent for future bilateral aviation agreements. By integrating strengths and resources, the JV aims to offer an enhanced combined route network and seamless connectivity for passengers flying between Vietnam and China through schedule coordination and code-share arrangements.
To facilitate passenger transfers, both carriers have introduced Inter-Airline Through Check-in (IATCI), enabling travelers to obtain boarding passes for up to three connecting flight segments at their initial point of departure. Additionally, members of both airlines' frequent flyer programs will enjoy a wide range of benefits, including priority check-in, expedited baggage handling, increased baggage allowance, and priority boarding.
Mr. Zhang Dongsheng, Deputy Director General of Commercial Steering Committee, China Southern Airlines said: "In recent years, China Southern Airlines has actively tapped into the aviation markets in countries along the Belt and Road through international bilateral cooperation, establishing a global network of international partnerships. The joint venture with Vietnam Airlines marks a significant step forward in our internationalization strategy. We will build an air bridge between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Vietnam to facilitate the high-quality alignment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Vietnam’s ‘Two Corridors and One Economic Circle’ plan, boosting regional economic, trade and cultural exchanges."
Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of Corporate Planning and Development of Vietnam Airlines, said: “The launch of a joint venture partnership with China Southern Airlines marks a new chapter in our cooperation, reinforcing our shared commitment to delivering enhanced value and seamless connectivity for our passengers on routes between China and Vietnam. Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen air travel links and contribute meaningfully to the development of economic, cultural and social ties between China and Vietnam. The joint venture underscores our long-term vision to offer more choices, improved services, and greater convenience for travelers in both countries.”
China Southern Airlines has long been a key strategic partner of Vietnam Airlines in the Chinese market. In 2010, the two airlines began code-share cooperation on routes between Vietnam and China, marking an important step forward in connecting the two aviation markets. Building on this success, Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines officially signed a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement in 2022, signifying a new milestone in deepening cooperation across various areas including commerce, services, and technical operations. Both parties are committed to prioritizing the use of each other’s services at airports where they operate, while coordinating to develop their respective hub airports to enhance operational efficiency and expand the route network between Vietnam and China.
China Southern Airlines is committed to building two major comprehensive international aviation hubs in Guangzhou and Beijing, positioning Guangzhou as the primary gateway from the Chinese mainland to Southeast Asia, serving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. Currently, it operates direct flights from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Wuhan, and Shanghai Pudong to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nha Trang, with a peak weekly capacity of 111 flights.
Vietnam Airlines, as Vietnam’s flag carrier, boasts an extensive route network with direct flights connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and linking Nha Trang to Tianjin, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Jinan, Changzhou, and Wuxi during peak periods. The airline operates over 50 flights on a weekly basis.
The year 2025 marks the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges, presenting new opportunities for the aviation market. This cooperation signifies a new phase in civil aviation collaboration between China and Vietnam, which will drive growth in the tourism markets of both countries and further promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges.