Starting last Friday, the two airlines have been cooperating to offer services linking Tokyo and Osaka in Japan with Shanghai and Xiangfan city in Hubei Province in central China.

The flights operate on Monday and Friday every week.

With the help of Shanghai Airlines, ANA, one of the two major carriers in Japan, is able to extend services further into China since some foreign carriers are still not allowed to fly to more cities other than Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Airlines, as a domestic carrier, does not fly international routes.

Passengers in Tokyo and Xiangfan need only to buy a single ticket and transfer planes in Shanghai on their way to the other destination.

"It's aimed at bringing passengers more convenience and attracting passengers for both carriers," said Wang Wanlong, a spokesman with Shanghai Airlines.

Employees of Japanese automaker Nissan, which has an auto factory located in Xiangfan, are also expected to take advantage of the new service.

The new service is part of an agreement signed by Shanghai Airlines and ANA last April under which the two carriers agreed to join hands in 10 areas, including code-sharing, ticket sales, cargo delivery and aircraft maintenance.

(Shanghai Daily May 12, 2003)