Air China said it would sell a 51% stake in Air China Cargo to a sister unit for 2.44b yuan to focus more on its passenger unit, as it reported a 4.3% rise in H1 profit. China's flag carrier said Thursday that while Air China Cargo's profitability had improved, intensifying competition, exchange rate fluctuations and the complicated international trade situation had created many uncertainties. "Therefore the sale of Air China Cargo is the company's strategic and rational response to the air cargo market's uncertainties, to strengthen the stability of the company's operations," it said. After the sale to the unit Capital Holding, which it said was fully-owned by Air China's controlling shareholder China National Aviation Holding Company, Air China will put more of its resources into its passenger aviation business to improve its competitiveness, it added. Air China Cargo's other shareholders, including Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways, have priority to purchase the stake or sell their shares with Air China, but the companies have yet to waive or exercise those rights, the company said, adding the deal still had be approved by shareholders. The deal comes as Beijing has been implementing mixed-ownership reforms aimed at bringing private sector money into government-run companies in an effort to revamp the country's bloated and debt-ridden state sector.<br/>
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United Thursday will announce three new daily routes to Europe as the third largest US carrier eyes higher-paying business travellers on transatlantic flights. The increase in transatlantic capacity comes as part of a broader company strategy that includes growing the margin-rich business-class service, said Patrick Quayle, United’s VP of international network. “We’re eyeing the business traveller, and Europe is doing very well for us,” Quayle said. Earlier this year, United cut its 2018 plans for capacity growth to a rate of between 4.5 and 5%. It had previously forecast a range of between 4.5 and 5.5%. In 2019, United will add summer service from Newark, New Jersey, to Prague and Naples, and year-round flights from San Francisco to Amsterdam, the carrier said. United does not currently expect to add or cut flights to Asia, Quayle said. <br/>
Airbus has rolled out the first A380 for All Nippon Airways from the final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse. The aircraft has now been moved to an outside station where various ground tests will be undertaken in preparation for first flight in the coming weeks. The A380 will then be transferred to the Airbus facilities in Hamburg for cabin installation and painting. ANA is configuring the A380 cabins with four classes and some all-new features that include a changing room, bar counters in all cabins and couch options in economy. The three A380s will be used on Tokyo-Honolulu services from spring 2019.<br/>