Patriotic call to top airline

PATRIOTISM, not profit and loss, should take priority in the running of China's largest state-owned airline, according to Chen Guangyi, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

In a sharp about-turn from business management to political ideology, the CAAC boss yesterday told a national political meeting for airline cadres that the leadership would revamp the entire company by creating political education at every level.

The official China News Service (CNS) also revealed that with the approval of the central Government, the CAAC has established political sections in all regional offices.

According to CNS, the political offices would be responsible for clearing up a lot of the ''confused questions [affecting the cadres], calming down their emotions, [and] rejuvenating their spirits'' to push the company to a ''sustained, high-speed and healthy'' growth.

And in an attack against selfishness, Mr Chen told the cadres present at the meeting they must re-educate themselves with ''patriotism, collectivism and socialism'' so that they would be well-armed in battling against ''money worship, selfishness and lust for pleasure''.

He also said that the ''political education'' was necessary for the airline staff in ensuring ''safety, punctuality and good services''.

But Mr Chen said that given the present state of the national airline, CAAC may have to take ''three years or a little longer'' before it could proceed along the right lines.