Hainan Airlines began construction of a new base at its Urumqi hub that will feature a hangar, warehouses, catering facility, flight crew and office building and a maintenance facility.

First phase of construction on the 153-acre site is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.

Hainan operates 13 routes within and from the Xinjiang region in northwest China.

The carrier said it intends to operate routes to Central Asia and Eastern Europe from the airport.

Separately, Hainan launched four-times-weekly Tianjin-Ningbo service aboard 737s.