What does CX have of immense value? HK slots, a proper base, with structure in HK and the lion’s share of parking space, gates, and terminal square footage. In short, the lions share of everything at the airport to enhance it’s pseudo monopoly status. Most favoured son status at HKIA is a money printing machine for CX.
What do the major mainland China airlines desire most in HK? All of the above.
The unanswered question to date is whether the HKAOA membership is the Golden Goose or merely one of its eggs.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see which mainland airline eventually gets its hands on that money printing machine.