China Postal Airlines has launcheddirect mail and cargo flights betweenShanghai and Osaka in Japan, shorteningdelivery times between the twocities by at least 12 hours, Xinhua newsagency reported.

The China Post subsidiary uses aB737-300 for the new service, whichtakes about two hours to reachOsaka.

It is the second international cargoservice that China Postal Airlineshas launched this year. It launched aBeijing-Seoul cargo service in August.

Xinhua said the new service willboost economic exchanges betweenChina and Japan and give China Postala surer footing in the internationalmarket.

China Postal Airlines will fly fromShanghai to Osaka five times a weekon Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays,Fridays and Saturdays, companysources said.

Shanghai-based China Postal Airlines, a 51/49 percent joint venturebetween China’s State Post Bureau andChina Southern Airlines, boasts a fleetof 13 aircraft and operates 30 flights toa dozen domestic cities.

The company has established adelivery network covering over 300Chinese cities. According to companysources, China Postal Airlines will rundaily flights for Korean electronicsgiant Samsung starting January 2007.

The airline plans to extend its airroutes to Europe and America as well asother countries in Asia when the timeis ripe, company sources said.