Southwest Airlines is currently undergoing a major transformation, which includes charging for checked bags, introducing assigned and extra legroom seating, etc. It goes beyond that, though, as Southwest is also increasingly launching airline partnerships.
Earlier this year, we saw Southwest launch its first partnership with Icelandair, and now Southwest’s second airline partner has been revealed.
In this post:
Southwest & China Airlines plan interline agreement
Southwest Airlines has announced a new interline agreement with China Airlines, which will specifically provide connectivity at China Airlines’ gateways on the West Coast of the United States. Connections bookable with this agreement will go on sale as of later in 2025, for flights as of early 2026.
Here’s how Southwest describes this development, in an announcement:
As we continue our mission to bring more choices to our Customers, we’re thrilled to announce our newest interline partnership with China Airlines (CAL), a Taiwan-based carrier. This agreement brings the opportunity for China Airlines’ customers to experience our renowned Southwest hospitality. Initially, China Airline Customers will be able to seamlessly connect from their west coast destination points at Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Ontario (ONT), and Seattle (SEA), on through to our Southwest network. Published connections should go on sale later in 2025, with service operating in early 2026. Keep an eye out for more details as we continue to develop our trans-Pacific airline partnerships.
Is this new partnership a big deal?
Is Southwest partnering with China Airlines a significant development? Yes and no.
It’s significant for a couple of reasons, if you ask me. First of all, it’s Southwest’s first partner across the Pacific, so I’d say that’s pretty noteworthy, just on principle. I’d also say it’s noteworthy because it really reflects how the partnership between China Airlines and Delta really isn’t close, despite both airlines being in SkyTeam.
China Airlines theoretically already has a lot of connectivity at most of these gateways, thanks to Delta’s presence (with the exception being Ontario, where Southwest has a much bigger presence). But Delta not really caring much about its non-equity partners is nothing new.
However, I’d say that this partnership isn’t significant for the simple reason that all we’re seeing here is an interline agreement. This is literally the most basic level of cooperation two airlines can have. There’s no codeshare agreement, or loyalty collaboration, or anything. The interline agreement simply make sit possible to book a ticket that includes travel on both airlines.
This development won’t have a material impact on the bottom line of either carrier. However, it’s clear that Southwest’s current partner strategy is that something is better than nothing, and that the airline is easing its way into more significant partnerships in the future.
So while these are fun to see for now, I’m really curious to see when Southwest starts to develop more significant partnerships with more perks and more exclusivity.
Bottom line
Southwest Airlines and China Airlines have announced plans to partner. The two airlines will be launching an interline agreement, which means that it’ll be possible to book itineraries involving travel on both airlines on a single ticket.
For now, this is a very basic level of cooperation, though it’ll be interesting to see how it evolves over time. This is certainly an interesting second partner for Southwest, given that China Airlines is in SkyTeam.
What do you make of Southwest & China Airlines partnering?
How will a normal interline agreement work when Southwest do not participate in GDS? I guess it will only be bookable on China Airlines website?
Southwest is in gds book it using sabre all the time
If Alaska can interline with EVA, I don't see the reason why this agreement would not work for China Airlines and Southwest. I bet it's to enable economy passengers from/to Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and so on, to reach secondary and tertiary US destinations on the same ticket. Lack of a domestic F should not be a deterrent
I wonder how much of Southwest's loyal customer base flies internationally and would fly to Asian destinations....
Ironically, the only time I flew to ONT was on DL.
@FNT, It would be awesome if Southwest was able to actually serve meals, but there galleys would need a massive overhaul, and the issue is, that is something that would be hard to do on a subset of there fleet given there network layout and P2P strategy.
I do hope that 5-10 years down the road, they are able to a real business class and able to serve meals. But I am not counting on it. Elliot will pull out and leave them in a bad financial situation most likely.
They could easily do pre-prepared cold meals.
Considering how much Delta hates their supposed Taiwanese Skyteam "partner," it makes sense for China Airlines to look elsewhere for feed.
This is also another example of why Southwest should have introduced first-class or business-class -- even if was just a European-style blocked middle seat. Add a meal service and enhance the drink offerings. A premium experience should be able to fill three or four rows at the front of the plane. It would also allow for connecting business-class passengers to have an elevated experience on Southwest.
I guess it's inevitable that China Airlines would look for a better US partner given its poor to nonexistent relationship with Delta. Delta pulled out of Taiwan -- even closing a sales office -- years ago as it pivoted to working with communist state-owned China Eastern. Instead of enhancing its nominal Sky Team relationship with China Airlines, Delta has returned to Taiwan with its own flight from Seattle that's been a disaster.
"Instead of enhancing its nominal Sky Team relationship with China Airlines, Delta has returned to Taiwan with its own flight from Seattle that's been a disaster"
What are you talking about?
China Airlines didn't exist on the Seattle route when DL launched their service (and also announced 4 months after Delta did). Also, you have no clue how that route is or is not performing for them, you're just making assumptions based on publicized...
"Instead of enhancing its nominal Sky Team relationship with China Airlines, Delta has returned to Taiwan with its own flight from Seattle that's been a disaster"
What are you talking about?
China Airlines didn't exist on the Seattle route when DL launched their service (and also announced 4 months after Delta did). Also, you have no clue how that route is or is not performing for them, you're just making assumptions based on publicized fares, which don't paint a whole picture.
Chinese people hate Southwest Airlines.
Make sit possible? :)
Might want to ask ChatGPT if there are any typos before publishing
This likely won't impact China Airlines' future with Skyteam.
Keep in mind that Korean Air has existing partnerships with Alaska and American Airlines despite having closer ties to Delta.
Similarly, British Airways, despite being inseparable with American Airlines, still has an existing partnership with their rival Jetblue. And of course, there's Turkish Airlines partnering with IndiGo despite sharing the same alliance with Air India.
At the end of the day, this is just business....
This likely won't impact China Airlines' future with Skyteam.
Keep in mind that Korean Air has existing partnerships with Alaska and American Airlines despite having closer ties to Delta.
Similarly, British Airways, despite being inseparable with American Airlines, still has an existing partnership with their rival Jetblue. And of course, there's Turkish Airlines partnering with IndiGo despite sharing the same alliance with Air India.
At the end of the day, this is just business. Despite being from different alliances, airlines still need more connectivity for passengers, and giving passengers more options is a necessity.
Mini airlines have relationships with other carriers outside of their alliance, but the largest Taiwanese market longhaul is to the US, which means having to work with Delta. It is simply a matter of Delta choosing to work with Korean rather than any other partner in Northeast Asia.
And remember that it was actually China Airlines that jumped into the Seattle market after Delta announced it
Fluffy Tim.
Taiwanese are not happy with Delta's involvement with China Eastern. Korean was blackmailed to partner with Delta because they realized ICN is easier to deal with than PVG.
Back then, MU was the way.
Korean is a charter member of SkyTeam. KE just realized they needed a partner and AA and UA are committed to Japanese partners.
AA and DL both have equity stakes in mainland Chinese airlines.
Taiwan is caught not just in geopolitics but also by geography. Taiwan is too close to Japan and S. Korea for there to be a competing hub.
Taiwan also has 3 global carriers - intense competition for a country (or...
Korean is a charter member of SkyTeam. KE just realized they needed a partner and AA and UA are committed to Japanese partners.
AA and DL both have equity stakes in mainland Chinese airlines.
Taiwan is caught not just in geopolitics but also by geography. Taiwan is too close to Japan and S. Korea for there to be a competing hub.
Taiwan also has 3 global carriers - intense competition for a country (or whatever you want to call it) of that size.
CI is basically turning to the US low cost sector for a partner- which is a big deal
@ToTo I think you do have a point when you say this is just business. CI also has an agreement with JetBlue. DL was probably not happy that CI added service to Seattle but DL is a bully anyway especially since Bastian took over the helm at the airline. Though, it is funny to see that they may not have the best of relationships but sometimes they still need to work together such as CI providing ground services for DL at Taoyuan airport.