At a ceremony held in Shanghai on 10th October, Star Alliance and Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines formally sealed a strategic partnership which will see the Shanghai-based airline become a “Connecting Partner” of Star Alliance in 2017. Juneyao will soon start offering services such as through-checkin, as well as Lounge access and other Priority privileges to qualifying passengers travelling on connecting itineraries with Star Alliance member airlines.

Currently 17 Star Alliance member airlines are operating around 1,600 weekly services in and out of the two Shanghai airports, Pudong International and Hongqiao International, which are both served by Juneyao Airlines. With a fleet of 56 aircraft Juneyao Airlines provides more than 1,700 weekly flights to 69 destinations in eight countries and regions.

The Connecting Partner Model is designed to allow airlines to connect to the Star Alliance network without having to become a full member. For customers this gives access to additional travel options beyond the current 1,300 airports served by the Alliance’s 28 member airlines.

Work is under way to establish the necessary technology and commercial links which will allow Juneyao Airlines to begin serving Star Alliance connecting passengers some time during the second quarter 2017.

Juneyao Airlines started formal operation in September 2006 and completed its initial public offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2015. It operates a fleet of 56 A320s with an average age of three years — claimed to be the lowest fleet age for any of the domestic airlines in China.