Air China and InterContinental Hotels Group signed a cooperation agreement Tuesday in Beijing that allows frequent flyers of Air China to earn 800 kilometers in bonus mileage if they stay in InterContinental hotels.

The agreement would benefit Air China's frequent travelers, said Cai Jianjiang, vice-president of the airline.

The first aviation alliance relationship in China would mark a new era for the hotel group, said Patrick Imbardelli, InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific managing director.

The national carrier now operates 386 international and domestic air routes.

InterContinental owns more than 3,300 hotels in nearly 100 countries and regions, including 40 in China.

 (People's Daily September 3, 2003)