Lufthansa, Air China sign accord to operate European routes

Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air China Ltd signed a cooperation agreement that will enable the two members of the Star Alliance group to take on competition from the rival Skyteam partnership and boost earnings.

The flag carriers of Germany and China plan to share revenue on China-Europe routes when the venture takes off next year, the two airlines said in a statement distributed in Beijing on Tuesday.

The joint venture is the closest the two carriers can get under restrictions on foreign control of Chinese airlines.