China Airlines adds fleets

JAKARTA (JP): China Airlines of Taiwan announced yesterday that it would introduce seven new airplanes later this year and another 11 airplanes in 1998 to meet a growing market demand.

The company said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post that China Airlines would have 52 airplanes next year, including 43 passenger and nine cargo aircraft.

China Airlines would receive four Boeing B747-400s, two Airbus A300-600Rs and one B747-400F later this year, and two B747-400s, eight B737-800s and one B747-200F in 1998, the company said.

"The Taipei-Los Angeles route will be increased to 11 flights per week on June 21 and 14 times per week starting next January," they said.

China Airlines currently links two cities in Taiwan (Taipei and Kaohsiung) with Jakarta 11 times per week (some of them via Hong Kong) by Airbus A300-600 jets. (icn)