A new strategic alliance has been formed between four low cost carriers in Greater China.
The U-FLY Alliance comprises HK Express, Lucky Air, Urumqi Air and West Air which plan to link their networks and combine some services.
The airlines are controlled by China’s HNA Group.
"Network alignment is underway to facilitate interline connections between many exciting city pairs across Asia," HNA said in a statement.
"As each LCC’s network expands and becomes more interlinked, the number of travel opportunities will multiply giving a huge range of options to visit the places that our guests have always wanted to fly to."
Together the carriers will offer flights between 85 cities and 168 city pair routes in Asia.
A website has been launched for the alliance and HK Express’ Ma Zhimin has been appointed U-FLY Alliance’s board chairman.
"With the launch of the first LCC alliance in the world, we are entering into a new era of travel that speaks to what travellers really want: flexible and affordable routes that are also safe and secure," said Ma.
The alliance will initially focus on the North Asia market and plans to expand over time by recruiting more member airlines.
