The companies said they would add the Paris-Wuhan and Paris-Kunming routes to their network, on a code-sharing basis.

"By strengthening the joint venture, our group pursues its partnership-driven Asia strategy." said Air France KLM executive Patrick Alexandre in a statement.

China Eastern Airlines and Delta Airlines each hold 8.8 percent of Air France-KLM's share capital.

The French government holds 14 percent, while Accor has expressed interest in taking a minority stake in Air France-KLM.

Air France-KLM has been looking for a new chief executive following the abrupt departure of chief executive Jean-Marc Janaillac in May, after staff rejected a pay proposal aimed at ending strikes that have resulted in heavy losses.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Dominique Vidalon)