Air China, which on Friday last week became one of three powerful merged groups as the Republic carried out a major restructuring of its airlines, is to seek an overseas stock market listing.

According to the official state news agency, no timetable has been fixed for the listing, but it is part of plans to make the carrier one of the region`s leading airlines in the next three years.

Beyond that, Air China has ambitions to expand internationally and become a leading global airline.

Last week Air China, the nation`s de facto flag carrier, was merged with Southwest Airlines and China National Aviation group. Two other carriers, China Southern and China Eastern, were also chosen to absorb other carriers and form larger groups.

Under the radical new structure, which was announced after a long-delay, China Southern, which has the republic`s largest fleet, is to take over China Northern and Xinjiang Airlines, while Shanghai-based China Eastern is to acquire China Northwest and Yunnan Airlines.

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