The South China Morning Post reported that Shanghai Airlines would be granted permission at the end of February to operate flights to several cities in Germany, citing a source at the General Administration for Aviation of China (CAAC).
If approved, Shanghai Airlines will become the first second-tier Chinese airline to be permitted to fly beyond the Asia-Pacific region, a privilege previously bestowed upon state carriers Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
The Post also cited a Shanghai Airlines source as saying that the carrier would lease a Boeing 747 or a McDonnell Douglas 11 for the route, adding that it was in code-sharing discussions with Lufthansa Airlines. If approved, the route would have to wait for China and Germany to amend their current air services agreement.