Travelore News: Delta Begins Codeshare Agreement With Shanghai Airlines

Delta Air Lines is relocating its passenger operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 at Shanghai-Pudong (PVG) airport beginning April 13 to collocate with its airline codeshare partners China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern.

The move and codeshare agreement are part of Delta's broader strategy to collaborate and expand services in China and become a more prominent U.S. carrier while continuing to offer the most robust network choices of a U.S. global carrier.

The relocation to Terminal 1 will allow for more convenient connections and a seamless customer experience for customers flying with China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines and Delta, including access to China Eastern's new 4,000 square-foot SkyTeam Lounge, which opens in late 2015. Delta customers will also receive SkyTeam Elite benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding and preferred seats.
"By relocating our operations and growing our partnership with China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines, Delta will offer the most comprehensive intra-China network at Shanghai airport for our customers in the United States and China," said Vinay Dube, Delta's senior vice president – Asia Pacific. "For the past several years, Delta consistently enhanced nonstop service between China and the U.S., and we look forward to adding to our network new service between Los Angeles and Shanghai beginning in July."

"China Eastern Airlines and Delta, being important SkyTeam member airlines, have continued to deepen cooperation in various fields in recent years," said Mr. Dong Bo, chief marketing officer at China Eastern. "The two airlines are committed to becoming the leading partnership on trans-Pacific routes through more extensive and deeper cooperation. The codeshare between Delta and Shanghai Airlines will further enrich bilateral cooperation, products and expand the network."

Combined with its hubs and focus markets in Detroit, Seattle, Los Angeles and Tokyo-Narita, Delta will operate 28 weekly departures to Shanghai this summer. Additionally, Delta offers daily service to China's capital, Beijing, from both Seattle and Detroit. The new Los Angeles to Shanghai route is subject to government approval.

By adding Delta's code on 11 Shanghai Airlines-operated China domestic routes, customers traveling on Delta's trans-Pacific flights will have access to a greater number of interior cities in China beyond Shanghai. Conversely, customers traveling from interior cities in China can buy a Delta ticket to the U.S. and beyond as a consolidated itinerary.

The new codeshare agreement with Shanghai Airlines complements Delta's existing agreement with China Eastern from its Shanghai hub. Combined with both partners, Delta provides connections to nearly 30 destinations beyond Shanghai including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing. It will also provide access to four new destinations from Shanghai – Zhengzhou, Guiyang, Nanning and Tianjin.

Delta is making significant investments to build the most Chinese-friendly U.S. airline. Chinese travelers are well served with local language options on delta.com, at airport self-service kiosks and among in-flight entertainment selections. The airline has Chinese-speaking flight attendants on every flight to and from China and offers Chinese cuisine among its in-flight meal options. As announced earlier this month, Delta launched its official WeChat account to provide Chinese customers with in-language flight information, marketing promotions and tips for popular Delta destinations through China's most popular SNS service.

Delta coded Shanghai Airlines operated routes (effective April 1, 2015):

Guangzhou, China (CAN) - Shanghai, China (PVG); roundtrip
Zhengzhou, China (CGO) - Shanghai, China (PVG); roundtrip
Changchun, China (CGQ) - Shanghai, China (PVG); roundtrip
Guiyang, China (KWE) - Shanghai, China (PVG); roundtrip
Guilin, China (KWL) - Shanghai, China (PVG); roundtrip
Nanning, China (NNG) - Shanghai, China (PVG); roundtrip
Shanghai, China (PVG) - Tianjin, China (TSN); roundtrip
Shanghai, China (PVG) - Xiamen, China (XMN); roundtrip
Haikou, China (HAK) - Shanghai, China (PVG)
Harbin, China (HRB) - Shanghai, China (PVG)
Shanghai, China (PVG) - Wuhan, China (WUH)