China Airlines sees 2001 sales up 14.5 pct on cross-strait traffic

HONG KONG (AFX-ASIA) - China Airlines president and chief executive Christine Tsung Tsai-yi said the company expects its sales to grow by 14.5 pct in 2001 despite the impact of a slowing global economy, the South China Morning Post reported.	    The newspaper quoted Tsung as saying the growth will be underpinned by robust demand for cross-strait traffic.	    "One of the major earnings drivers will be from an increase in passengers and cargo traffic between Taiwan and China via Hong Kong," Tsung said.	    "Taiwanese merchants are increasing their investments in South China, and they like to travel to these areas," she added.	    Tsung said she expects revenue in 2001 to reach 82.38 bln twd and net income is expected to rise 11 pct to 3 bln twd.	    Out of the forecast 82.38 bln twd, 44.7 bln twd will be contributed from passenger revenue, up 10.5 pct from a year earlier, while another 30.9 bln twd is expected to come from cargo forwarding, up 17.8 pct year-on-year.	    Tsung said the Taiwan government's new "double days" holiday policy, which allows the country's workforce two days off every week, will also promote demand for travelling between Taiwan and neighbouring countries.

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