China Airlines Ltd (CAL) on Monday announced the start of its partnership with US-based Southwest Airlines on a new interline booking service.
For itineraries starting from Jan. 19 next year, passengers can book a single ticket from CAL, which would include the flight from Taiwan to one of its US gateways, with connections to Southwest flights to cities such as Las Vegas, Nevada; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; and Chicago, Illinois, China Airlines’ Web site says.
CAL currently offers nonstop flights to Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, Ontario and San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; and Toronto, where travelers would be able to make connecting flights.
Photo: CNA
The objective is to expand the carrier’s US network and attract more tourists to Taiwan, whether for connections or sightseeing, CAL president Kevin Chen (陳漢銘) told a joint news conference in Long Beach, California.
Southwest managing director of networks and alliances Steven Swan said that CAL was “Southwest’s first partner in Asia.”
He said the partnership also opens doors to the recognition of mileage points between the airlines.
Swan, who has more than 23 years of experience in the aviation industry, visited Taiwan in early March to initiate alliance discussions.
Starlux Airlines signed a similar agreement with American Airlines on Friday last week.
Southwest Airlines is the fourth-largest airline operator in the US, transporting the highest number of domestic passengers with more than 4,000 flights daily.
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