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Air China and Shanghai Airlines today formally join the Star Alliance, the oldest, fastest growing and largest airline alliance in the world.

The network can now add a further 40 Chinese destinations to its current inventory of some 897 routes spanning 160 different countries.

Air China chairman Li Jiaxiang called his airline's inclusion in the alliance a 'historic moment', adding that the agreement would lead to many years of strategic cooperation with the world's leading airlines.

'China is one the fastest growing aviation markets in the world,' added Star Alliance chief executive officer, Jaan Albrecht. 'As of today - with Air China and Shanghai Airlines now formally Star Alliance member airlines - we offer an unrivalled network of flight connections to, from, and within this market for international travellers.'

In conjunction with the new agreement, the alliance is also investing in the renovation of China's two main hub airports - Beijing and Shanghai-Pudong - with the intention of facilitating better interconnectivity between flights.

Star Alliance's 19 member carriers now operate over 17,000 flights daily, utilising a fleet of nearly 3,000 aircraft.

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