A CX employee told me at the gym last night that CX has been coaching MU to join oneworld before the end of 2004. Oneworld is allegedly desparate for a Chinese partner and for some reason not happy with KA. (Caveat emptor).

If this is true I can only explain CX position because KA is a serious competitor (better than CX on First Class under 5 hours) whilst MU are xxxx to put it mildly.

Who are KA and MU?

Sorry, those are two new ones to learn for me

http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/

i was told the same thing 3 years ago, by the CX ppl responsible for oneworld alliance.
(CX was given the job among oneworld to find asian partners, i think they did not do a good job as till now there is no other partner)

china is their top priority, CA and MU are the top candidates. (apparently now MU became the 1st prioority). the issues are that no one (incl KA) wanted to spend the money to upgrade the IT system to meet oneworld's tough requirement. and also resistance from the China government to such alliances. (i think the government is becoming more liberal now)

noting that you still cannot interline lugguage transfer to domestic china flights,
i am still not too optimistic if they can make it by 12/2004

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 10-29-2003).]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...alliance_x.htm

China Southern to become first Chinese airline to join global alliance
BEIJING (AFP) � China Southern Airlines is expected join the SkyTeam global aviation alliance this weekend, becoming the first Chinese carrier to sign up to such a scheme, a company official said Tuesday.

"We'll be officially admitted into SkyTeam Saturday," the official said.

The move will help extend China Southern's global network via connections and code sharing, and allow its passengers to take advantage of joint frequent-flyer programs, he said.

SkyTeam, formed in June 2000, has six members so far, including Air France, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Alitalia, Czech Airways and AeroMexico.


Meanwhile, flag carrier Air China and China Eastern Airlines are working to join the oneworld Alliance and Star Alliance respectively, according to airline officials.

===

I think they meant China Eastern for OneWorld and Air China for Star.

actually given the recent AC/CX deal, they might be right after all
MU - CX relationship seems to have gone sour

Not to put too fine a point on it but I think you mean CA/CX. Unless Air Canada have decided that their ex-competitor Canadian had the right alliance all along