Delta Air Lines is firming up a strategic alliance with China Eastern Airlines by purchasing a minority stake in the Chinese carrier.
Delta will spend $450 million to acquire a 3.55% stake in China Eastern, paving the way for closer collaboration between the two on US-China routes.
In a joint statement the two airlines said they would make joint investments to enhance the customer experience and provide greater access to each other’s networks.
"Delta’s relationship with China Eastern is long-standing. We share a vision that will create the most profitable, enduring franchise between the US and China," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson.
"We have learned much from one another already and look forward to deepening our already effective partnership."
China Eastern and Delta currently operate codeshare flights on 30 domestic routes in the US, 43 domestic routes in China and seven international routes between the US and China.
In recent years Delta has embarked on a ‘China Ready’ approach to attract the world’s fastest growing outbound market.
There are Chinese-speaking flight attendants on every China flight and local language options on its website, airport self-service kiosks and for in-flight entertainment.
