As part of the expanded strategic partnership announced in November 2014, the airlines will also co-locate their operations in Terminal 1 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from 25th October 2015.
Co-location will give customers streamlined check in facilities, access to China Eastern's new lounge facility* and improved connection times in the partnership's Shanghai hub.
Co-location will also allow customers to more easily connect to 67 Qantas codeshare services operated by China Eastern, including new destinations such as Changchun, Jinan and Wuhan. This takes Qantas' intra-China offering from 11 to 18 markets and provides more than 400 services per week that connect within four hours to other destinations beyond the partnership's main hub.
Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans said the new agreement supports the growing number of customers travelling between Australia and China.
“Our goal is to be the first choice for travel between Australia and China and customers will enjoy significant customer benefits as a result of the expanded partnership,” said Mr Evans.
“Co-location in Terminal 1 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport makes it easy for our customers to connect beyond Shanghai to the rest of China, and from cities across China through to Australia.
“Aviation is opening up new travel and business opportunities at a time when the Australia-China relationship is more important than ever to both countries.
“We see huge potential for this expanded partnership with China Eastern as tourist numbers grow and the China-Australia free trade agreement is finalised.
“It's an exciting time for Qantas International. We're using our aircraft more efficiently and adding capacity to meet demand for travel to destinations across the Asia-Pacific, while expanding strategic partnerships to give our customers a bigger network. Working more closely with China Eastern is vital part of this strategy,” said Mr Evans.
From November 1st 2015, under the new agreement Qantas customers will also have new travel options between Australia and Shanghai, including codeshare bookings on China Eastern's double daily Sydney – Shanghai services and double daily Melbourne – Shanghai services.
These services are complemented by Qantas' existing codeshare on China Eastern's Sydney Nanjing – Beijing services and new year-round Brisbane-Shanghai services beginning in November 2016.
Qantas Frequent Flyers will also have greater capacity to earn and redeem points as the partnership develops.
*From 25th October eligible Qantas customers will be able to access China Eastern's current lounge while China Eastern develops a new lounge facility which is due for completion in 3rd QTR 2016. The current lounge, China Eastern Lounge 19B, is located on the lower level underneath boarding gate 19.
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