Looks some other alliances are in the works, too:

Air China and Shanghai Airlines may join the Star Alliance this year, Robert Milton, chief executive of the alliance member Air Canada, said Tuesday. The airlines would be the first two Chinese carriers to join the group of 16 airlines, which includes Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and United.

Shanghai Airlines plans to join the alliance and has started talks, the Shanghai Daily newspaper reported Tuesday, citing an airline official.

Air China has not made a decision on its alliance membership, an airline official said Tuesday. (Bloomberg, IHT) http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/...l/travel18.php