Shanghai Airlines Company Limited, which marks its 20th anniversary today, is expected to become an important member of the world's main aviation unions.

Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu, in congratulating China's first locally-invested commercial airline on its 20th birthday, expected it to grasp new opportunities and make new contributions to the city's aviation industry.

During the period covered by the 11th Five Year Plan, Shanghai Airlines will try its best to become a significant international aviation group, with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft by 2010, said Zhou Chi, a board director of the airline. It will open direct flights to Europe and the US operating new Boeing 787 aircraft, and establish complete domestic and international service networks and transfer processes, Zhou stated.

Shanghai Airlines boasts of more than 140 domestic flights and 10 international and regional routes. An affiliated airline specifically for cargo services will be launched in the first quarter of next year, with delivery of two cargo aircraft expected by January 7 next year, rising to at least ten by 2010, he added.

(Shanghai Daily December 31, 2005)