Vietnam Airlines and China Southern Airlines are set to launch their joint venture collaboration, effective August 1, 2025, after receiving approvals from relevant authorities. This marks the first joint venture between a Vietnamese and a Chinese airline, paving the way for future bilateral aviation agreements.
By combining their strengths and resources, the partnership aims to offer a vast network and seamless connections for passengers traveling between Vietnam and China through flight schedule coordination and codeshare cooperation.
To facilitate smooth connections, the airlines have introduced Inter-Airline Through Check-in, allowing passengers to obtain boarding passes for up to three consecutive flights at their initial departure point.
Additionally, members of both airlines’ loyalty programs will enjoy exclusive benefits such as priority check-in counters, increased baggage allowances, and priority boarding.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Head of Planning and Development at Vietnam Airlines, shared, “Our joint venture with China Southern Airlines signifies a new chapter in our partnership, reflecting our mutual commitment to delivering superior value and convenience to passengers traveling between China and Vietnam. Through this collaboration, we aim to enhance air connectivity and contribute tangibly to the economic, cultural, and social development of both nations. This joint venture underscores our long-term vision to offer more choices, better services, and greater convenience to passengers in both countries.”
Mr. Zhang Dongsheng, Deputy General Manager of the Commercial Leading Committee of China Southern Airlines, commented, “In recent years, China Southern Airlines has been actively expanding our aviation market in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative through international bilateral cooperation, building a global network of partners. Our joint venture with Vietnam Airlines is a significant step forward in our internationalization strategy.”
China Southern Airlines has long been a strategic partner of Vietnam Airlines in the Chinese market. Since 2010, the two airlines have been codesharing on routes between Vietnam and China, marking a significant step in connecting the aviation markets of the two countries.
Building on this foundation, in 2022, the two sides formally signed a Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement to expand collaboration in various fields, including commerce, services, and technology.
Both parties committed to prioritizing each other’s services at co-operated airports while coordinating to develop each other’s hub airports to enhance operational efficiency and expand the network between Vietnam and China.
China Southern Airlines operates direct flights from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Wuhan, and Shanghai to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nha Trang, with peak frequencies of up to 111 flights per week.
As Vietnam’s national carrier, Vietnam Airlines boasts an extensive network with direct flights connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and Nha Trang to Tianjin, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai, Jinan, Changzhou, and Wuxi. During peak seasons, the airline operates more than 50 flights per week.
