Top domestic airlines boost cooperation

China’s top aviation regulator encouraged the country’s airlines to work together as the global economic downturn lessens travel demand, Bloomberg reported. Li Jiaxiang, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said he approved of an agreement signed yesterday by the country’s top three airlines – China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines – to cooperate on maintenance in order to cut costs and delays. "The industry regulator would like to see moves that may benefit the industry," Li said. "Still, it’s a company decision and it should be market-oriented." He declined to say if consolidation would benefit the industry. The three carriers posted third-quarter losses on higher fuel costs and slowing demand.