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Aeroflot Russian Airlines intends to launch flights out of GuangZhou and open a GuangZhou office next year, once its code-share flights with Cathay Pacific Airways get off the ground in June.

Alexey Sumchenko, general manager for Hong Kong, Macau and the Philippines told TravelWeekly at today's GuangZhou International Travel Fair that GuangZhou is in need of an Aeroflot office, and the recent partnership with Cathay will serve as an important, initial base for southern Chinese travelling both regionally and long-haul.

The GuangZhou market is growing very fast. We plan to launch flights and open an office here next year, but our first step was to partner with Cathay out of Hong Kong where we can connect passengers with Moscow and Europe. We will work with Cathay on joint sales and in joint advertising. Over the past two years, Cathay has given us advice on ways we can improve our services and quality, and now we are going to put it all into practice this June, Sumchenko said.

Aeroflot teamed up with Cathay earlier this week in a code-share partnership that will see Aeroflot operating B767 aircraft six times per week between Hong Kong and Moscow. Asia Miles members will earn points when they book through Cathay Pacific.