China Southern Airlines is expecting to become the first Chinese airline to join a global alliance.

China Southern signed a memorandum of understanding to enter SkyTeam, an alliance whose members include Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, an airline spokesman said. The spokesman for the Guangzhou-based airline declined to give further details.

Last year, Air China and United Airlines signed a codeshare deal, which analysts saw as a first step for Air China to join the world’s biggest airline network, Star Alliance, anchored by United and Lufthansa.