Shanghai-based China (Eastern Airlines) are exerting all efforts to ensure good air service during the (APEC meetings), yesterday's eastday.com reported.

"During the one-week meetings, we will have some 100 flights arriving at or taking off in the Pudong International Airport," Shi Guofeng, the company's high ranking official in charge of the arrivals and departures said.

He said Eastern Airlines, as one of China's three major aviation groups, will handle 95 percent of the air flights for the comers to the meetings.

However, "the frequent flights will put us under high pressures," Shi said, "because it's unusual to have two or more planes landing down at one time in the same airport in our daily practice."

To alleviate the pressures and ensure good quality services, Eastern Airlines has bought US$7 million-value facilities, such as the elevator cars, according to Shi.

And, the enlarged parking plot, which has been put in service since this May, will help a lot, Shi said.

"It now can hold more than 20 planes, including 12 Boeing 747-400 jets and 13 Boeing 737 craft."

Boeing 747-400 planes are the largest passenger aircraft, with a capacity of more than 400 passengers, Shi said.

(Eastday.com.cn 10/16/2001)