Air China to Divest Cathay Pacific Stake to Avoid 30% Takeover Threshold

It's a tactical maneuver to stay below the radar. Air China, the nation's major state-owned carrier, announced on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that it'll sell a portion of its stake in Cathay Pacific. The move is widely seen as a calculated step to avoid breaching the 30% threshold mandated by Hong Kong's takeovers code.

Strategic Rationale for Air China Cathay Pacific Stake Sale

For the past 20 years, Air China and Cathay Pacific have maintained a complex cross-shareholding arrangement. However, as Air China's stake crept closer to the critical 30% mark, market speculation intensified regarding a potential mandatory takeover bid. Under Hong Kong's regulations, crossing this line would've forced the Chinese carrier to offer to buy all remaining shares—a massive financial undertaking that could destabilize the current balance of power.

A Tactical Retreat, Not a Divorce

According to Reuters, Cathay Pacific's CEO described the divestment as purely "tactical." They don't see this as a sign of a fraying relationship. Instead, it's about maintaining a stable operational partnership without the headache of regulatory oversight that comes with a full takeover. The two airlines continue to benefit from extensive code-sharing and cargo collaboration in the Asian hub.