China Southern takes first step to codeshare alliance

China Southern Airlines signed an agreement for future membership in SkyTeam, the Delta, Air France, Korean Air and KLM alliance, making it the first airline in China to join a global codeshare group. The deal will make Guangzhou's new Baiyun International Airport SkyTeam's first China hub. No date was given for China Southern to formally join. SkyTeam said the carrier still had to satisfy member airlines that it could meet the alliance's quality standards.