International Business / The Pacific

Delta Negotiating Possible Aircraft-Sharing Alliances: Delta Air Lines Inc. is in discussions with Chinese and other airlines in the Pacific region about code sharing, Senior Vice President Rex McClelland said. Code sharing, in which airlines share aircraft on flights traveling the same routes, is a popular way for airlines to operate more routes for less money and with fewer airport slots. Cost-cutting efforts and growing competition from Asian carriers recently led the Atlanta-based carrier to stop flying to Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; and Bangkok, Thailand. Japan, Seoul, Singapore and Bombay, India, are now its only destinations in Asia. Delta may select more than one Chinese airline as a code-sharing partner, McClelland said, adding that the decision may be made this year.