Another US airline company will be allowed to offer transport service between China and the United States this year, according to a newly-signed Sino-US draft agreement on civil aviation cooperation.

An official with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China told Xinhua here Tuesday that according to the agreement, some 84 more passenger air routes will be launched between China and the United States within six years.

By 2005, a new US passenger airline company will be allowed to provide air transport service between the two countries, and China will enjoy more flexibility in choosing its aviation enterprises to fly between the two countries, the official said.

Currently four Chinese and four US airline companies monopolize the air transport service between the two countries, and by 2010 nine companies from each country are expected to provide aviation service, according to the draft.

Chinese airline companies can directly fly to 12 US cities, while US companies can only reach five Chinese cities.

Source: Xinhua