Hong Kong, Jan. 2 -- When China Southern Airlines (CSA), the country's largest carrier, announced last month it would be pulling out of the SkyTeam alliance on January 1, it was confirmation of rumours that had been circulating in the industry since 2017.
Within the month, it was the turn of Qatar Airways to churn that same rumour mill. The outspoken group CEO of the airline, Akbar Al Baker, is believed to be ready to extract his carrier from oneworld because of souring relations with two alliance members, American Airlines and the Qantas Group.
No-one should be surprised at this turn of events. In the world of global airline alliances, sleeping with the enemy has become par for the course. It is increasingly evident that whatever the ben...