New airlines to focus on Southeast Asia

China Eastern Yunnan Airlines - a joint venture of China Eastern Airlines (CEA), and the Yunnan provincial government, began operating on Aug 2 in Kunming.

The cooperation agreement was signed in 2009, with CEA - the nation's third largest airlines - holding 65 percent of the company's equity. The rest is with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Yunnan Provincial People's Government.

"China Eastern Yunnan Airlines seeks to expand business in connecting Southeast Asia and South Asia," says Ma Xulun, general manager of CEA.