China Eastern to sign agreement to join SkyTeam

China Eastern Airlines said today that it would sign a preliminary agreement to join global airline alliance SkyTeam. The companies would sign a memorandum of understanding later on Friday, Luo Zhuping, a spokesman for the nation's third-largest carrier, said.He did not provide further details.

China Eastern Airlines said on Friday that it would sign a preliminary agreement to join global airline alliance SkyTeam. The companies would sign a memorandum of understanding later on Friday, Luo Zhuping, a spokesman for the nation's third-largest carrier, said.He did not provide further details.

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Shanghai-based China Eastern said, earlier this week it was in talks with all three global alliances, including Star Alliance and Oneworld.

The airline is the only one of China's top three carriers that is not yet part of a global industry alliance. The nation's biggest carrier, China Southern Airlines, is a member of SkyTeam while Air China belongs to the Star Alliance.

Joining SkyTeam will enable members of the China Eastern Airlines frequent flyer programme to redeem points when they fly on the alliance's other carriers.