WESTERN Airlines, the first local and private airline in Chongqing, has received the green light to commence operations, reports Logistics Week.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) said it will issue the operations licence to the new airline, which was scheduled to make its maiden flight no later than June 18th.
Western Airlines, with registered capital of CNY80 million (US$10 million), is a joint venture of Yunnan Xiangpeng Airlines Co., Ltd, subsidiary of Hainan Airlines Group, with four other investors.
Yunnan Xiangpeng invested CNY28 million in the joint venture and holds a 35 per cent stake. Western Airlines, with base in Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, will specialise in domestic cargo and passenger transportation.
The airline will have three B737-300 aircraft at first leased from Hainan Airlines, which will also transfer 20 pilots and 24 stewards to the new airline.
The Chongqing-based airline will serve as the first base of Hainan Airlines in the region to compete with Air China Limited. The municipal government of Chongqing will build the second runway and the second aviation terminal in Jiangbei airport between 2008 and 2009.
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