Travelers to Tibet in southwest China will no longer have to have a stopover at Chengdu Airport as the China Eastern Airlines will begin a non-stop flight next year from Shanghai to Lhasa, capital of Tibet.

A company official said Saturday the Shanghai-headquartered China Eastern had signed an agreement with aircraft giant Airbus to buy five Airbus A319s which are suitable for the flight.

The official did not disclose when the non-stop flight could be available between Shanghai and Lhasa, but said the new Airbus planes would be delivered beginning February 2006 and through July 2007.

Source: Xinhua News Agency