Air carrier to double fleet size

Shanghai Airlines, the Mainland's fifth-biggest carrier, plans to purchase or charter 50 aircraft to meet market demand over the next five years, the Hong Kong Standard reported. Half the order is believed to have been placed with Boeing at a cost of US$5 billion over five years. The expansion will bring Shanghai Airlines' fleet to 93 aircraft by 2010. The company is also looking into the introduction of direct flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong, chairman Zhou Chi said.