JAPAN Airlines, two Chinese carriers and Korean Air have been tipped as future members of the fledgling Air France/Delta AirLines alliance.
The group has only signed up Aeromexico since the alliance was launched last summer and desperately needs new global members to increase competition with the established Star Alliance and Oneworld groupings.
Asia is key to growth but most major carriers are already committed to an airline group. JAL is poised to join British Airways’ Oneworld but aviation analysts believe it could be persuaded to link up with Air France and Delta.
China Southern and China Eastern already have agreements with the pair, while the troubled KAL has yet to commit to a group.
Air France chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta refused to say which carriers he was talking to but did describe the loss of British Midland as disappointing. The UK airline chose Star Alliance over Air France/Delta last year.