China's Sichuan Air in JV talks with TransAsia Air

SHANGHAI, March 14 (Reuters) - Sichuan Airlines, a mid-sized Chinese carrier, is in talks with Taiwan's TransAsia Airways to set up a joint venture airline, a Sichuan Airlines spokeswoman said on Friday.

"We have been in discussions with TransAsia to form a joint venture," the spokeswoman said, adding that details of the proposed partnership had yet to be finalised.

Sichuan Airlines, partly owned by China Southern Airlines (600029.SS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), operates more than 130 routes, almost entirely within China, with a fleet of 40 aircraft, according to its Web site. (Reporting by Fang Yan; Editing by Edmund Klamann)