China Eastern Airlines has sped up its cooperation agreements with domestic carriers when its relationship with Singapore Airlines and Air China seemed difficult because of a takeover bid.

The country's third-largest carrier will expand its code sharing routes with Shanghai Airlines starting from March 1 to March 29, it said in a statement at the weekend.

The deal will be extended automatically if the two sides have no objections.

The cooperation involves 88 flights on five routes between Shanghai and Harbin, Tianjin, Chengdu, Chongqing and Shenzhen. The two Shanghai-based carriers have run 16 flights on four code shared routes since October 28.

China Eastern uncovered a string of cooperation plans after Air China's parent proposed to pay at least HK$5 (US64 cents) a share for a less than 30 percent stake in it.

Last month, China Eastern and China Southern Airlines signed a framework agreement for cooperation in several areas including ground handling and operations as well as marketing and aircraft procurement.

The carrier said it had won approval to set up a regional airline with plane maker China Aviation Industry Corp I.

(Shanghai Daily, February 26, 2008)