Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines is speeding up efforts to establish a stronger presence in Beijing by expanding its fleet and manpower resources.

The number of planes under the Beijing branch will be expanded from the current six to 15 next year, of which most are the Airbus A320 and A330.

They will serve some 30 domestic routes from Beijing to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, Xi'an and other major cities, as well as about 10 international routes.

The move is aimed at enhancing the carrier's strength and competitive edge in the Chinese capital.

To facilitate these expansion plans, the airlines is looking to recruit graduates with majors in marketing, business administration, commerce, law, engineering and construction.

Fan Jin, of the airlines' Beijing office, says that they have already received more than 2,000 applications from graduates of Peking, Tsinghua, Renmin, and Beihang universities.

Another two recruitment drives will be held over the weekend at Renmin University and the University of International Business and Economics.

This is the airlines' largest recruitment drive in Beijing since its founding in June 2007.