"Shanghai airports to fully open to international traffic"

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Shanghai airports to fully open to international traffic
Agence France-Presse


SHANGHAI, (AFP) - China said Wednesday it plans to fully open its largest
city Shanghai to international air traffic or the so-called 'fifth freedom'
rights. 

"The air traffic in Shanghai airport will definitely be opened," official
surnamed Zhu from China Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) told AFP. 

Fifth freedom rights allow foreign carriers, after flying in from abroad, to
offload passengers and freight and then pick up passengers or cargo before
flying on to another country. 

With some exceptions, most international carriers coming to China currently
have to pass through Beijing before being allowed to fly on to Shanghai or
other cities in China. 

"We are awaiting approval, the airport is expected to open freight first at
the end of this year and passenger transport next year," an CAAC official
surnamed Li said. 

The CAAC also recently granted the same rights on a trial basis in the
southwestern province of Hainan, as part of efforts to draw tourists to the
tropical island. 

But state press reported that China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines were
unhappy with the decision to liberalise the rights for Shanghai-bound
traffic as it would increase competition for China's struggling airlines. 

It certainly would bring big changes to the whole air market, the China
Youth Daily cited Ye Yigan, chairman of China Eastern Airline as saying. 

"The Shanghai government must better take into account the interests of
domestic airlines and their operational situations," Ye said.


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