Budget airlines could take off

Budget airlines taxied closer to reality Wednesday after a meeting between a new Shanghai-based carrier and China's civil aviation administration, state media reported. China could be edging closer to getting true budget airlines after officials of the new Shanghai-based carrier, Spring Airlines, met civil aviation officials. Spring Airlines, a private carrier, was seeking to overcome policy barriers to the operation of low-fare airlines competing with state-owned carriers. Spring is one of four private carriers on the Mainland, all seeking new budget airlines status but they must reduce operating costs in order to offer low-cost tickets. China's aviation regulations have prohibited the cost-savings.