China carriers to launch 27 new EU, US routes 2008-2009 - report
Beijing (XFN-ASIA) - Airlines in China will open 27 additional
air routes to and from Europe and the US in the next two years to tap into the
two major markets, rivalling leading international competitors, the Beijing
Daily reported.
Five domestic carriers, including the big three -- Air China, China Southern and China Eastern -- are scheduled to add 206 new weekly flights on the routes, said the newspaper, citing officials from the General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC.)
The routes connecting China with the EU and US are currently dominated by overseas' airlines including Lufthansa, United Airlines and Northwest Airlines, as Chinese carriers have fewer large jetliners to deploy on the routes, according to the report.
This will change as new large aircraft, including B787s and A380s ordered by Chinese carriers, are due to be delivered in the coming two years, the report added.