Travel Daily | Shenzen Airlines joins the Star Alliance

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (seated left) and Shenzhen Airlines President Feng Gang (seated right) sign the official joining papers as Shenzhen Airlines joins Star Alliance. Chinese government and airport officials as well as management from the Star Alliance member airlines witness the event. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (left) and Shenzhen Airlines President Feng Gang (right) shake hands after the signing ceremony for Shenzhen Airlines’ joining of Star Alliance, as various officials look on and applaud.. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (left) and Shenzhen Airlines President Feng Gang (right) shake hands after the signing ceremony for Shenzhen Airlines’ joining of Star Alliance, as various officials look on and applaud.. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (left) and Shenzhen Airlines President Feng Gang (right) exchange gifts of aircraft models as Shenzhen Airlines joins Star Alliance. Both CEOs were dressed in traditional Chinese Tang suits. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Staff in uniform from Star Alliance member airlines stand on the tarmac at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport in front of two Shenzen Airlines’ Star Alliance branded Airbus A320s, ahead of the formal ceremony at which Shenzhen Airlines joined Star Alliance. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Staff in the uniforms of the Star Alliance member airlines line up beneath flags showing their company’s logo at the opening of the official event to mark Shenzhen Airlines’ joining Star Alliance © Photographer Ted Fahn

Staff in the uniforms of the Star Alliance member airlines line up beneath flags showing their company’s logo at the opening of the official event to mark Shenzhen Airlines’ joining Star Alliance of the Star Alliance member airlines line up beneath flags showing their company’s logo at the opening of the official event to mark Shenzhen Airlines’ joining Star Alliance © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab welcomes Shenzhen Airlines to the Star Alliance family at the official joining ceremony © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab welcomes Shenzhen Airlines to the Star Alliance family at the official joining ceremony © Photographer Ted Fahn

Wang Changshun, Chairman of Air China, welcomes Shenzhen Airlines to the Star Alliance family at the official joining ceremony. Air China acted as the mentor carrier, assisting Shenzhen Airlines in meeting Star Alliance’s joining requirements © Photographer Ted Fahn

Shenzhen Airlines President Feng Gang addresses an audience of Chinese government officials, CEOs and other top officials from Star Alliance member airlines, airport officials and media at the official ceremony to mark his airline joining Star Alliance © Photographer Ted Fahn

Deputy Administrator of CAAC, Mr Xia Xinghua addresses an audience of Chinese government officials, CEOs and other top officials from Star Alliance member airlines, airport officials and media at the official ceremony to mark Shenzhen Airlines joining Star Alliance © Photographer Ted Fahn

Chinese dragons dance at the official ceremony to mark Shenzhen Airlines joining Star Alliance. In China, the dragon is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Chinese dragons dance at the official ceremony to mark Shenzhen Airlines joining Star Alliance. In China, the dragon is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Chinese dragons dance at the official ceremony to mark Shenzhen Airlines joining Star Alliance. In China, the dragon is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Chinese government and airport officials, CEOs and other top managers from Star Alliance member airlines and staff in uniform stand in front of two Shenzhen Airlines Airbus A320s in the Star Alliance livery, at a ceremony to mark the airline’s joining of Star Alliance. © Photographer Ted Fahn

CEOs and other top officials from the Star Alliance member airlines stand with representatives of their staff in uniform in front of a Shenzhen Airlines’ A320 in Star Alliance livery at the airlines’ joining event. The CEOs each wear traditional Chinese Tang suits. © Photographer Ted Fahn

CEOs and other top officials from the Star Alliance member airlines stand in front of a Shenzhen Airlines’ A320 in Star Alliance livery at the airlines’ joining event. The CEOs each wear traditional Chinese Tang suits. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Shenzhen Airlines President Feng Gang (left), Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab (centre) and Air China Chairman Wang Changshun (right) join hands as Shenzhen Airlines joins Star Alliance. Air China acted as the mentor for Shenzhen Airlines in the joining process. © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab is interviewed by journalists on the fringes of the event to mark Shenzhen Airlines’ joining of Star Alliance © Photographer Ted Fahn

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab gestures as he talks to journalists on the fringes of the event to mark Shenzhen Airlines’ joining of Star Alliance © Photographer Ted Fahn