Cathay moves to block SQ’s China foray
HONG KONG – Cathay Pacific has moved to foil the attempt by Singapore Airlines to take a 24 percent stake in China Eastern, China’s No 3 airline.
A day before China Eastern shareholders were due to vote on the Singapore Airlines/Temasek joint bid, Cathay said it would consider joining Air China in a higher rival bid.
Air China’s parent, China National Aviation Corp (Group) Ltd (CNACG), has been looking to block the US$920 million Singapore Airlines bid and believes a Cathay-Air China partnership would be its best option.
Analysts at the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation said, “Any CNACG-led bid – which Cathay Pacific and Air China would almost certainly join – would result not in the turnaround of China Eastern over the long-term, but its likely absorption and disappearance.
“At stake is the crucial Shanghai hub, where Air China is seeking to build its presence, and the highly lucrative Hong Kong-Shanghai route, which will liberalise from the end of March 2008 under the recently expanded Hong Kong SAR-Mainland bilateral air services agreement.”
Ian Jarrett
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.

































Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025