China’s Fuzhou Airlines cleared for launch

By Mark Elliott On Sep 28, 2014

TD Guest Writer

Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly

Fuzhou Airlines will initially operate three of Hainan Airlines' Boeing 737s — Fuzhou Airlines will initially operate three of Hainan Airlines’ Boeing 737s

HNA Group has been given permission to launch another new airline in China.

Fuzhou Airlines, based in southeast China’s Fujian province, has received its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and will now be able to commence operations in October.

The CNY2 billion (US$3.3bn) start-up carrier is a joint venture between HNA Group, which also owns Hainan Airlines, and three other state-owned companies. Hainan Airlines will hold a 60% stake in the new airline, and will initially supply it with three of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, plus pilots and cabin crew.

Operating under the ‘FU’ code, the new airline will be based at Fuzhou’s Changle International Airport, initially serving domestic routes.

Fuzhou Airlines will become the second airline based in Fujian, following Xiamen Airlines.

Its launch also marks the continued expansion of HNA Group, which launched Urumqi Airlines in northwest China’s Xinjiang region earlier this year.

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