American Airlines buys stake in Chinese carrier

airline alliance and is based in the southern city of Guangzhou.

The deal would improve governance, strengthen management, boost competitiveness and help “achieve the strategic goal of building a world-class aviation industry group,” the company’s filing said.

It said the two airlines might increase cooperation in code-sharing and other areas, including staffing, sales, passenger loyalty programs and sharing airport facilities.

For American Airlines, the deal could widen access to China, one of the biggest sources of tourists to the United States, and will help it compete with rival Delta, which has invested in foreign carriers in Mexico, Brazil and Britain in recent years.