Jan. 23, 2007 (China Knowledge) – Hainan Airlines Co Ltd < 600221> expects to return to profitability in 2006 due to increased passengers and cargo traffic, it said in a statement filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

In 2005 Hainan Airlines had a net loss of RMB 215.82 million and a loss per share of RMB 0.30.

Rival China Southern Airlines had also announced last week that it expected to report its first profit in the five years since it was founded. China Southern, which is also based in Hainan province, said it carried 49.21 million passengers in 2006, with a revenue of RMB 46.54 billion at the company's annual meeting.

China Southern reported losses of RMB 1.79 billion in 2005.