UATP Expands in Asia; Adds China Southern Airlines as New Merchant

UATP Expands in Asia; Adds China Southern Airlines as New Merchant

April 20, 2006

    WASHINGTON, April 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- UATP
continues its expansion in Asia, adding China Southern
Airlines as its newest UATP Merchant effective immediately.
 China Southern Airlines is meeting the rising demands of
corporate travelers and now accepts all UATP corporate
cards, issued by 13 airlines and accepted as form of
payment by over hundreds of airlines and travel agencies
worldwide.

    (Logo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040318/UATPLOGO )

    "As one of the largest carriers in The People's
Republic of China, China Southern must respond to customer
demands to continue to capture market share and expand
services," says Mr. Zhu Yi Ting, Manager of
International Passenger Transport, China Southern Airlines.
 "China Southern is positioning itself for the
increasing number of international business that is being
conducted in China and for the demand of UATP acceptance
that we have seen through our client base, while lowering
distribution costs."  

    China Southern Airlines recently became the most
technically advanced aircraft fleet in The People's
Republic of China with the introduction of the nation's
first-ever automatic check-in boarding system at the new
Baiyun International Airport.  This is the first time an
airline in China is offering self-service passenger
check-in for domestic flights.  Currently available on one
domestic route -- between Guangzhou and Changsha -- the
airline is planning to significantly expand this service to
all flights by the end of 2005.

    "China is expected be one of the largest growth
markets for leisure and business travel worldwide; with an
expected 10% growth rate in 2006 and future
increases," said president and CEO, Ralph Kaiser. 
"By becoming a UATP Merchant, China Southern Airlines
is positioning itself to encompass the corporate travel
market growth.  UATP will continue to work with China
Southern Airlines to capture market share and increase the
availability of card acceptance within China which we
expect to gain access through BSP China by year-end."


    The largest airline in The People's Republic of China
for the past 26 years, China Southern Airlines connects
more than 80 cities around the globe.  Major business and
vacation destinations served in China include: Beijing,
Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai,
Shenzhen and Wuhan and as well as international service,
including: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
City, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Los Angeles,
Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Penang, Phnom
Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. 

    Visit http://www.uatp.com or http://www.cs-air.com/en
for more information. 

    About UATP 

    UATP accounts are accepted as a form of payment for
corporate business travel by more than 220 airlines and
travel agencies worldwide.  UATP accounts are issued by
these airlines: Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, American
Airlines (NYSE: AMR), Austrian Airlines, Continental
Airlines (NYSE: CAL), Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines
(NasdaqOTC: JALSY), Qantas Airways, Ltd., United Airlines
(Nasdaq: UAUA), US Airways (UAIRQ.OB), and VARIG Brazilian
Airlines.  AirPlus International issues the UATP-based
Company Account for: British Airways (NYSE: BAB),
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) and Lufthansa German
Airlines. 

    For more information, please contact:

     Wendy L. Ward,
     UATP
     Tel:    [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

SOURCE  UATP