DL CEO hints at PVG hub

[700UW]

Delta Air Lines' Shanghai hub plans: replicating the Amsterdam-KLM relationship will be difficult
A Shanghai presence would be a logical move for Delta, but establishing a hub will require the blessing of local partner China Eastern.
 
This Shanghai-China Eastern potential visually has similar building blocks to Delta's existing Amsterdam-KLM partnership; but the same outcome is far from guaranteed.
 
In the long term, Delta will need China Eastern more than China Eastern will need Delta. In this case the negotiating power does not rest in Atlanta. And, although both are SkyTeam members, China Eastern - and the other Chinese majors - have demonstrated considerable pragmatism in their partnership relations. Star Alliance's Air China for example holds a substantial minority share in oneworld's Cathay Pacific.
 

http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/delta-air-lines-shanghai-hub-plans-replicating-the-amsterdam-klm-relationship-will-be-difficult-219446?utm_content=buffer2b257&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

[WorldTraveler]

the statement "DL will need China Eastern" is completely backward. The Chinese airlines have no chance of becoming global carriers with major global connecting hubs with outside help.

Let me know when the Chinese carriers begin to carry anywhere near the amount of non-Chinese connecting traffic that the Korean, Japanese, and other Asian carriers do.

The reason why Air China holds a stake in CX is to tap into the market which they don't carry.