The German airlines, Lufthansa, has announced that it would increase air passenger traffic in China's Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

The move is part of the airlines' effort to expand its business and influence in the country, a fast growing market for passenger and cargo transportation, the China Youth Daily said on Thursday.

The German national carrier said that starting on October 30, Lufthansa will have 43 weekly direct flights to Chinese cities from Munich and Frankfort, two German important air transportation hubs.

Thus far, Lufthansa, a pioneer European airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, operates 157 flights a week to the region.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2005)