QANTAS will offer customers direct access to Taiwan with the launch of a new codeshare agreement with China Airlines from October 15. Customers will be able to travel on codeshare services operated by China Airlines from Sydney and Brisbane to Taipei, with up to 10 return services per week available between Australia and Taipei during peak seasons.
Qantas executive manager international sales Stephen Thompson, said, “We’ve seen a growth in the number of our customers travelling to Taipei via our Singapore and Hong Kong hubs. By providing greater access to Taiwan with a direct codeshare service and more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points, we’re confident our customers will enjoy this new route to Taipei.”Customers can also continue to travel on Qantas-operated services to Singapore, connecting with codeshare services operated by Jetstar Asia to Taipei. “A key benefit of our extensive Asia network is the ability to travel to multiple destinations within Asia without the need to backtrack. The option to fly direct into Taipei and return via Singapore, for example, will appeal to business travellers looking to maximise their time. This new codeshare also strengthens our position in the region, and complements existing commercial relationships with three of the biggest carriers in Greater China – China Eastern, China Southern, and through oneworld, Cathay Pacific.”The new codeshare agreement follows other recent initiatives to strengthen Qantas’ presence in growth markets, including a recent expansion of its codeshare with LAN across South America and the new codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways to resort destinations in Thailand and Cambodia.Qantas filed a $2.4 billion loss for the 12 months to June 30, the biggest ever annual deficit at the carrier, attributing the loss to weak domestic demand in Australia, poor consumer spending and rising fuel costs. Link for the Deal Alert!