First Beijing-Shanghai express route launches

Five Chinese airlines jointly launched an express air service between Beijing and Shanghai, the first in the country, but the service will mean an end to hefty discounts on weekday flights, Eastday reported (in Chinese). The five Chinese airlines are Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which initiated the service, is promising a maximum three-hour turnaround between Shanghai and Beijing. The service includes express check-in, security check, boarding gate and baggage claim services in both Beijing and Shanghai. Passengers would be allowed for the first time to transfer to flights of any of the other four airlines at their destination.