Lufthansa plans to begin flying to Shenyang and Qingdao from March next year, extending its effort to open links to Chinese secondary cities. The announcement follows the conclusion of an agreement with the cities’ airport authorities and regional governments. Lufthansa does not say what specifically has been agreed, but it is normal for Chinese local governments to offer incentives for business activities that they judge will promote economic growth. Airports in such cities are particularly keen to attract long-haul services.

Shenzhen Airlines plans to expand to at least 171 aircraft by 2015, ramping up capacity by 10% a year in its role as the Air China group’s challenger in the home territory of rival China Southern. That fleet forecast is conservative, says an airline official. “If possible, it will be more than 180.”

Lufthansa will open routes to at least two more second-tier Chinese cities, markets that are attractive because of their populations and rising wealth but present great challenges for business development. The announcement will be made on July 8, says a company official. Among Western airlines, only Lufthansa and KLM are flying into Chinese airports other than the three hubs that dominate the country’s long-haul traffic—Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou Baiyun.