Mesa Air to operate flights out of China

Mesa Air Group Inc, may become the first US passenger airline to operate flights out of mainland China. AP reported that the airline, based in Phoenix, could sign a joint operating agreement with Shenzhen Airlines this week. The new airline has not been named yet. Mesa Air Group spokesman Paul Skellon said the two airlines will operate flights together within a year and Shenzhen will hold majority control of the new company. Mesa would not move any operations offices to China. The company expects to have 20 50-seat regional jets ready by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Skellon said the fleet could grow to 100 planes in five years.