The Chinese government has provided a cash injection of US$220m to Air China’s parent company to fund the carrier’s purchase of a stake in its cargo venture with the parent of Beijing Capital International Airport, Reuters reported.

Last April, Air China decided to buy the 24 per cent share it did not own in the venture, Air China Cargo, from the airport group for US$105m.

China’s other two big state carriers, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, have both obtained government money to help offset the downturn in the global industry in 2008.