The plant that caught fire on Monday illustrates the challenge to imposing uniform safety standards on China's fragmented and fast-expanding food business.
But China is likely to be cautious in granting Cathay additional flights given opposition from home carriers including Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines as the fragmented Chinese airline industry consolidates.
Right now China's auto industry resembles America's at its highly fragmented start: There are 120 or so Chinese companies that have popped up in recent years.