http://bbs.feeyo.com/posts/217/topic-0013-2174215.html

According to Chinese local media, posted via CARNOC, both Skyteam and oneWorld are in the race to get China Eastern onboard.

American Airlines has confirmed that China Eastern has told them they're wish to join the alliance, while Korean Air claims Skyteam is in discussions with the unaligned chinese carrier.

China Eastern is currently talking with several airlines to purchase its stake as part of strategic partnership. The timetable of joining an alliance depends when the stake sale finishes.

Skyteam has or is getting China Southern. I thought MU to oneworld was already pretty much agreed upon?

Quoting SkyyMaster (Reply 1): Skyteam has or is getting China Southern

This has been confirmed and is happening.

Quoting SkyyMaster (Reply 1): I thought MU to oneworld was already pretty much agreed upon?

They have been at this a while now I think, and was pretty much agreed upon in the aviation community. If there is any reason why MU would want to look at SkyTeam or another alliance it might be purely for money reasons, and someone may have sweetened the deal up to make them want to take a look at another alliance. I still think in the end MU will be with Oneworld.

Can they just join SOME alliance so that I can get miles for my 6 MU fights this summer?! 20,000 miles in 10 days and dammit I want the miles! Since my flights are not booked through AA I don't think I can claim AAdvantage miles, short of them entering the alliance...

JBLU

China Eastern is pretty much an oddball these days. The rumour of Big 3 merger recently has a new twist, MU is 1) out of the merger game, 2) may be took over by China Southern.

I don't understand why MU would be planning on SkyTeam when China Southern is already well on track for it. China Southern will be joining for sure, and another Chinese carrier doesn't make sense.

Aeroflot777

Here is a new twist in the MU saga. This article from atwonline.com

"China Eastern's alliance future depends on new investor
Thursday April 5, 2007
As the three global alliances angle for a foothold in the Chinese market, China Eastern Airlines is leaving its options open, preferring to identify a new strategic investor before committing to one of the groupings.

The carrier told the Shanghai Securities Gazette that it is speeding up talks on selling off a 20%-25% stake to a new investor, likely a foreign airline that already may be an alliance member. "There is no need to rush now, as we don't want to disturb our ongoing negotiations," it told the paper. China Eastern Airline Group holds a 59.9% share of the carrier with the remaining shares in circulation. It intends to maintain a controlling stake.

American Airlines has attempted to recruit CEA into oneworld and said the Chinese carrier was interested but that "there is no specific timetable on when to make it happen." Korean Air has lobbied on behalf of SkyTeam, which already has signed up China Southern Airlines. China Eastern said its contact with each of the three alliances has been "confined in internal discussion."

Singapore Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, is pegged as the most probable strategic investor in CEA. "We are negotiating with China Eastern about possible partnership to hold a stake, but I don't think that will happen in the near future," a top SIA executive reportedly told the paper. CEA Chairman Li Fenghua noted there are several foreign airlines showing interest in investing. It refused to disclose candidates other than SIA.

Membership in Star may be problematic, however, as CEA's biggest competitor, Shanghai Airlines, will join that alliance this year (ATWOnline, May 11, 2006). Air China also will join Star, while China Southern is heading to SkyTeam.

by Katie Cantle"

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=8473


This is interesting indeed. If SQ decides to take a stake in MU, will this mean MU eventually joining Star Alliance or will the arrangement be similar to the one with CX and Air China (both stay in their respective alliances). If MU were to join Star, that might give Air China an excuse not to join and jump to oneworld.