Merger of Airlines to Go Forward

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 ◆ Merger of Airlines to Go Forward

China's aviation authorities have said the industry regrouping based on three major domestic airlines might take longer than what was originally scheduled but is going on smoothly.

The planned industry merger aims to regroup ten airlines directly controlled by the aviation administration into three conglomerates based on the Beijing-based Air China, Shanghai-based China Eastern and Guangzhou-based China Southern airlines.

Everything is going well in the merger, and the CAAC will only help push it forward, not disrupt the process, Thursday's China Daily quoted an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), who rejected as "totally groundless" some media reports saying the merger plan would be dropped or rescheduled because of severe conflicts of interests in the merger process.

Ma Songwei, an official with CAAC's publicity department, admitted the delay of the long-awaited formal launch of the three airline groups may have fed some rumors but the merger "is still keeping up with CAAC's original plan".

When unveiling the merger plan last April, the industry watchdog said the regrouping would take about two years.

"We should stay patient enough for the long merger process", Ma was quoted as saying.
The opening ceremony of the new Air China group is likely to take place in the first half of next year, possibly after the traditional Spring Festival in February, the report said, quoting sources from the Beijing-based aviation giant.(xinhua)