Mcdonald's opened its first airport restaurant in the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport today,offering the same prices as other outlets,with no more than 10yuan (US$1.2)for one item.

Mcdonald's entry has broken the existing high-price system of the airports, said a market analyst. "More competitors will enter into the Hongqiao Airport with that of Mcdonald's just a prelude,"said the spokesman with the Shanghai International Airport Holdings.The planned food street in the airport is expected to completely break the existing luxurious prices,he said.

Coca Cola was sold at 15yuan for 355mls in the Hongqiao airport lounge, while that in Mcdonald's only sold at 4.5 yuan(US$0.54).

It is said that the food in the airport has been monopolized, and Mcdonald's entry into the airport is aimed to break the monopoly,said Chen Qin, an employee with the food firm of the airport.

The food prices in the airport lounge will not be cut for the time being,but some efforts might be taken in a short run,Chen said.

The high food prices in the airport lounge will definitely be cut as price plays a decisive role for the consumers,the analyst said.

(eastday.com January 31, 2002)