China Northwest Airlines Flight 2119, bound for Beijing, crashed on takeoff in the Ningxia province capital of Yinchuan, killing 59 of its 113 passengers and crew.
The airline's parent formally merged with
China Northwest Airlines and Yunnan Airlines on Friday (11 October) under a government-directed industry consolidation designed to create three airline groupings capable of competing internationally.
In the statement, the airline also said its holding company, Eastern Air Group Co., is negotiating with China Yunnan Airlines and
China Northwest Airlines concerning a merger and restructuring proposal.
The company has chartered 10 aircraft and their crews from Air China,
China Northwest Airlines, China Northern Airlines, China Southwest Airlines and China Eastern Airlines for stand-by use.
In related news, Cathay Pacific has chartered crewmembers and 10 aircraft from Air China,
China Northwest Airlines, China Northern Airlines, China Southwest Airlines and China Eastern Airlines as a precaution against further flight disruptions.
The CAAC has 10 airlines directly under its control: China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Northern Airlines, Xinjiang Airlines, Yunnan Airlines, China Southwest Airlines, Zhejiang Airlines,
China Northwest Airlines and Great Wall Airlines.
China Eastern will be able to extend its services from the southeast coast into the industrial heartland of the northwest after taking over
China Northwest Airlines.
China Northwest Airlines has commenced a temporary charter service between Shanghai and Sapporo, Japan.
China Northwest Airlines has launched a new service from Lanzhou to Shenyang via Taiyuan.
Analysts have observed for instance that China's fifth and sixth largest carriers,
China Northwest Airlines and China Northern Airlines have not secured partners.