FILE PHOTO - A China Eastern Airlines passenger jet passes in front of the moon over Shanghai May 13, 2011. “We continue to enhance our existing partnerships to offer the most attractive products and services at competitive fares to all our customers. This is undoubtedly the best response to this eventuality.”Delta Air Lines said China continued to be an important market for its long-term network and that it was well positioned because of its partnership with China Eastern. Air New Zealand said it was aware of the change and was constantly assessing new route opportunities.Lufthansa, Air Canada, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and American Airlines did not respond to requests for comment.TIE-UPSThe policy would also likely hurt incumbent Chinese airlines like Air China, which under the old rules had been able to dominate the Beijing-Los Angeles route. Many Chinese airlines are already facing falling returns on their international business.Rivals like Hainan Airlines (600221.SS), China’s fourth-largest carrier, have been expanding their international business in secondary routes and could take on new ones, analysts said.

Source: Egypt Today September 26, 2018 08:15 UTC