Foreign airlines boost coverage in western areas

Other cities in western China are also welcoming additional international routes from foreign airlines.

Qatar Airways Co selected Chongqing as its fifth Chinese destination in November 2011, while Finnair Oyj added Chongqing to its network in May 2012.

"Overall, the numbers of international flights and routes in these regions are not very large now," said Li Lei, an aviation analyst at Citic Securities Co Ltd.

The market in western areas is still in a preliminary stage, Li said, and the airlines are not investing too much in air capacity there. "They are occupying positions through new routes and waiting for a boom in the market," Li added.

However, some business insiders question whether foreign airlines are too centralized in southwest cities, which could make competition stiffer there.

Meanwhile, local governments are working hard to lure foreign carriers by introducing supportive policies, including direct subsidies to airlines.

"Local governments will help the airlines open new international routes to Chengdu as soon as possible," said Cheng at the Chengdu Logistics Office.

Local airports have also expanded their capacity to accommodate more carriers.

Chengdu also plans to build a new airport in Jianyang, a city nearby, said Yan Yuhua, manager of the aviation market department of the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

wangwen@chinadaily.com.cn