Delta to step up ties with China Eastern

Delta Air Lines Inc and China Eastern Airlines Corp will deepen their cooperation, officials of the two airlines said, giving Delta a stronger foothold in the world's fastest-growing aviation market while the Chinese carrier penetrates further into the United States.

"You'll be able to fly from any city that China Eastern serves in China to any city Delta serves in the US," Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson said after a news conference on Tuesday in Shanghai.

"In essence we'll run a single airline, even though there are two airlines involved."