China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Xiamen Airlines to form regional alliance in Jan-2013

China Airlines chairman Chang Chia-Juch stated the carrier and fellow SkyTeam alliance members China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines will form a new regional alliance in Jan-2013, with a formal agreement expected to be signed on 03-Jan-2013, according to a China Times report. China Airlines commenced discussions with the mainland carriers on the regional alliance following its entry into SkyTeam in Sep-2010 and expects the regional alliance to enhance the four carriers' competitiveness in the Greater China region. The carriers operate a combined 267 cross-Strait flights to 34 mainland cities.