Originally Posted by
Typhoonpilot
In 2015, Delta Air Lines acquired 10% of China Eastern's Hong Kong-listed shares for $450 million. This translates to a 3.55% stake in the Chinese airline. The airline's president has also said that it will work to attract other investments, and reduce the stakes held by state-owned enterprises.
Last year, China Southern also sold a 2.68% stake to American Airlines for HK$1.55 billion ($198 million). American also has an observer on the Chinese carrier's board, without any voting rights. This makes Air China the only state-owned operator without a foreign investor.
To add to the conversation regarding Air China's link with UAL via the Star Alliance:
Air China joined Star Alliance in December 2007. As a Star Alliance member and the only flag carrier of China, Air China operates a worldwide network of more than 6,000 flights every week from its hub in Beijing, linking 143 destinations in 30 countries and regions.
The United pilot's CBA has [arguably] strict language on JV which essentially requires "metal in the market" and prohibits an agreement similar to what DAL and AMR both have with their respective Chinese counterparts. UAL and ALPA will begin negotiating by April with the goal of closing on a new CBA by the end of this year. It doesn't take very much imagination to guess what might be on their wish list regarding scope restrictions.