China's first low-cost carrier, Spring Airlines Co Ltd, will launch its maiden flight on July 18, the company announced yesterday.

The first shuttle flights will be from Shanghai to Yantai, Shandong Province, and Shanghai to Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The company has already got four lines approved by civil aviation authorities. They are Shanghai to Yantai, Guilin, Mianyang in Sichuan Province and Nanchang of Jiangxi Province.

The airline offers ticket at about 80 percent of the original price compared to average market rates.

But, in order to save costs, it will cut the maximum luggage each passenger can carry onboard from 20 kilograms to 15 kg and won't provide free meals.

The carrier was founded by Shanghai-based Spring International Travel Service, the nation's largest private travel agency.

(Shanghai Daily July 8, 2005)