Air China till STAR

[Savipix]

Air China to join Star Alliance

At a joint ceremony held in Beijing today, Air China and Star Alliance announced
that the Chinese carrier has decided to join Star Alliance.

Commenting on today's event, Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO said: " We are
delighted that Air China has elected to join Star Alliance. This is the decisive
step in implementing our strategy for the Chinese market and lays a foundation
for the future pace in Chinese Aviation"

Mr. Li Jiaxiang, President of China National Aviation Holding Company and
Chairman of Air China Limited , said: " With economic globalization and open
skies, competition in the airline industry will intensify. In order to survive
and grow, airlines need to build international alliances. Cooperation between
Air China and Star Alliance will lead to multiple advantages for all parties.
China's civil aviation market is one of the fastest growing in the world, and
has enormous potential".

Star Alliance recently also extended an invitation to Shanghai Airlines to join
the alliance. This dual-hub approach will allow the alliance to offer unique
network from the two most important airports in China, Beijing and Shanghai.

Once both Air China and Shanghai Airlines will become full members of the
alliance, the Star Alliance network will grow to 20 members, offering more than
16,500 daily flights to 912 destinations in 160 countries.



Star Alliance was established in 1997. The members are Air Canada, Air New
Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa,
Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair,
SWISS, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG
Brazilian Airlines. Air China and Shanghai Airlines will become full members by
the end of 2007. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1
(Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network.



SAS Group Corporate Communications

[EB]

Da vant definitivt Star Alliance kampen om Kina...

[Someone]

Air China hadde vel allerede en liten fot innen for med code-sharen med LH. Fattern skal visst fly med dem på LH nummer til Beijing neste måned