China Southern Airlines has become the latest airline to be part of IAG Cargo’s Partner Plus programme, starting in August 2015.

IAG Cargo customers will be able to make use of confirmed space booked on China Southern Airlines aircraft to new destinations such as Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Urumqi, according to IAG.

“Our Partner Plus Programme has allowed us to grow our network reach in an asset-light way,” said Steve Gunning, CEO of IAG Cargo. “Today’s deal will provide our customers with new destinations in some of Asia’s most important trading hubs. IAG Cargo has its sights firmly set on network expansion and Partner Plus is allowing us to meet this goal much more rapidly than would otherwise be possible.”

Gunning also added that the focus would now turn from adding new members to deepening the commercial relationships with current members of the programme.

China Southern’s customers are set to benefit from the partnership too.

“IAG Cargo has a strong global network reach and will prove an important partner in helping us to connect our customers with markets in Europe, the Americas and elsewhere,” said Zhao Fengsheng, senior vice president of cargo at China Southern Airlines. “We look forward to working with them on what we believe will prove a highly effective and beneficial partnership.”

IAG’s Partner Plus programme now consists of six carriers: American Airlines, the Avianca group, Finnair, IAG, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways.