Shanghai Airlines (SA) plans to purchase about 50 aircraft by 2010 in an attempt to expand at home and abroad after joining Star Alliance in December, Xinhua reported, citing company president Fan Hongxi. This year, the airline will grow its fleet from 53 to 60, expanding its annual capacity to 300,000 tonnes of cargo and mail. SA has nine Boeing 787 aircraft on order, which will be delivered starting next year.

“We aim to develop new international air routes by using Boeing 787 aircraft,” Fan said, adding that SA, which will have a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2010, will handle 1.5 million tons of cargo and mail annually.