Southwest Airlines is set to launch an interline partnership with Taiwanese airline China Airlines, confirming speculation that it will work with TransPacific operators with a strong presence on the US west coast.
The Dallas-based carrier said on June 2 that it is exploring a partnership that will begin early next year with China Airlines, saying that conversations will come at IATA's annual meeting in Delhi.
Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said that once “initial work” is completed with China Airlines at AGM, a “seamless trans-spaific journey across the Southwest network” would be possible.
“As the largest domestic passenger airline in the United States, we also carry more people from and more people than any other airline,” he says.
Watterson expects Southwest passengers to “become quickly from accessing overseas connections.”
From a China Airlines perspective, President Kevin Chen says airlines are always planning to expand their long-range networks deep into the US, such as the Midwest and “toward the East Coast.”
Southwest is the first IATA member to participate in AGM as it recently demonstrated its intention to expand beyond its national and incest networks.
Last year, the carrier identified its first international partner as Iceland Air, and the airline set up cooperation between the airlines flowing through Baltimore, Denver and Nashville connections to Reykjavik and the European cities beyond.
Partnering with TransPacific Carriers appears to be the logical next step.
In particular, Southwest suggests that the US has recently received approval from the US Department of Transport to fly to all countries that share the “open sky” agreement, and is investigating international expansion.
Southwest may announce additional airline partnerships in the coming months.
