China Southern Airlines, the newest member of SkyTeam and the largest airline in China announced a new code share pact with Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS).

In making the announcement, China Southern Airlines' Chairman Liu Shaoyong said, “Starting from 27 November 2007, customers of China Southern Airlines and Malaysia Airlines have been enjoying 35 weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. These seamless connections between the two parties air network enable China Southern Airlines' customers flying into Kuala Lumpur to connect to all domestic points served by Malaysia Airlines.”

Mr. Liu added that, “at the same time, Malaysia Airlines' customers can travel on China Southern flights to more than 90 destinations in China from Guangzhou and 38 from Beijing.

This close cooperation has opened new opportunities in the code-share arrangement between China and Malaysia. We firmly believe that such a strategic partnership will offer travelers more choices and seamless destinations served by the two airlines, further strengthening the two parties' presence both in China and Malaysia and tapping feeder traffic from the domestic routes of the respective countries.”

China Southern Airlines operates a fleet of 330 Airbus and Boeing jet aircraft and is the largest carrier in China in terms of fleet, extensive air network and annual passenger traffic. In 2007, China Southern Airlines transported nearly 57 million passengers, ranked #9 worldwide and the only Chinese carrier to enter into the world Top 10 passenger airlines.