Travelers to Tibet in southwest China will no longer have to have a stopover at Chengdu Airport as the China Eastern Airlines will begin a non-stop flight next year from Shanghai to Lhasa, capital of Tibet.
  
A company official said Saturday the Shanghai-headquartered China Eastern had signed an agreement with aircraft giant Airbus to buy five Airbus A319s which are suitable for the flight.
  
The official did not disclose when the non-stop flight could be available between Shanghai and Lhasa, but said the new Airbus planes would be delivered beginning February 2006 and through July 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2005)