Shanghai Airlines plans to raise ticket prices by around 10 percent on almost all outbound flights starting April 20, when new air-pricing regulations take effect. 

The new pricing rules allows air carriers to raise ticket prices by up to 25 percent and cut prices by a maximum of 45 percent.

Industry analysts say the price increase will be good news for carriers on the stock market and may help push up their earnings in the second quarter.

They believe passengers won't be scared away by spending one or two hundred yuan more for a ticket.

(CRI April 15, 2004)