Delta Air Lines Inc. reached an agreement with China Eastern Airlines that will provide connecting service to 21 cities in China.
Starting June 1, Delta customers in the U.S. can book connecting flights through Shanghai to additional cities including Ghangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing.
Through the codeshare alliance, China Eastern’s customers also have access to Delta’s nonstop flights between Shanghai and Detroit and Atlanta and 21 connecting flights in North America.
This expansion is part of Delta’s continuing efforts to move into the growing aviation market in China, said Vinay Dube, senior vice president of Asia Pacific.
“China Eastern’s extensive network and growing hub in Shanghai will complement Delta’s existing service to China and improve our customers’ access to destinations across one of the world’s fastest-growing regions,” said Mr. Dube.
On June 21, China Eastern is also set to join the SkyTeam Airline Alliance, which has eight member carriers, including Delta. Membership allows passengers to redeem frequent-flier miles on member airlines.
Other members include Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, Czech Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Korean Air.
Delta will restart nonstop flights between Shanghai and Atlanta twice weekly on June 5. The airline will also offer five flights a week between Detroit and Beijing on July 1.
For more information, visit http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=18&item=154.