Air China has said it will increase its stake in Cathay Pacific Airways to nearly 30 per cent by buying shares from CITIC Pacific at HK$6.335 billion. The Beijingbased airline will buy 491.9 million shares of Cathay at HK$12.88 apiece from CITIC Pacific, according to a statement posted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The deal will make Air China the Hong Kong carrier’s second largest shareholder after British conglomerate Swire Pacific.