The Shanghai Airlines Co. Ltd will add 57 more planes to its current fleet in the forth coming five years, according to Zhou Chi, chairman of the board with the air carrier.

Founded on Dec. 30, 1985, the Shanghai Airlines Co. Ltd., which was China's first licensed local air company, began its air service with five second-hand Boeing 707 planes. It now has 43 planes and is operating 150 air routes, including 10 international ones.

"Our company will see a faster growth in both passenger and cargo transport with new opportunities created by Shanghai's drive to build into an air service center from 2006 to 2010," said Zhou.

He disclosed that the air carrier would also diversify its scope of business by expanding into logistics, tourism and hotel industry during the same period.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2006)