2010-07-16 15:29

China Eastern Airlines said its profit for the first half of 2010 would increase by more than 50 percent over the same period a year ago as the country's air transport market recovered rapidly.

In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Thursday, the airline said a substantial increase in passenger traffic in Shanghai due to the World Expo and synergies from the absorption of Shanghai Airlines contributed to the jump in earnings.

The airline said its first half profit last year amounted to 1.17 billion yuan ($172.78 million) .