Profits improve at Air China

China's flagship carrier Air China reported a pre-tax profit of Yn112m in 2002, nearly three times the Yn34m reported in 2001. The results were the first since the company was merged with China Southwest and China National Aviation last year, and it attributed the rise to fast growth in passenger and cargo traffic. The company posted losses between 1998 and 2000, but has forecast a profit of Yn360m for this year. Following the merger, Air China has 118 aircraft flying 307 routes. It carried 18.2m passengers in 2002.