Chinese start-up Huaxia Airlines, also known as China Express Airlines, plans to launch passenger services in September from its base in western
Huaxia is interested in the CRJ200 because it plans to operate on domestic regional routes and it approached Shandong Airlines because “we are the biggest CRJ operator in China”, says a Jinan-based official in Shandong Airlines’ corporate planning department, who wishes to remain anonymous.
No contracts have been signed but the two sides are discussing a plan that involves Shandong Airlines leasing the start-up three CRJ200s and lending it 20-30 pilots as well as some maintenance and operations personnel, says the official, who confirms that Huaxia Airlines plans to launch operations in September.
Shandong Airlines has 10 CRJ200s and two CRJ700s and can lease some of these out because it is replacing CRJ200s on some routes with newer model Boeing 737s, says the official.
Shandong Airlines confirmed last month it has agreed to lease 737-800s from Singapore Aircraft Lease Enterprise (SALE). The corporate planning official says the airline is currently speaking to some other undisclosed leasing companies to try and firm up some more 737 lease deals.
Huaxia Airlines is based in
A statement on Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) also says the airline plans to lease three CRJ200s as well as borrow pilots and maintenance personnel from Shandong Airlines.
The statement lists Huaxia’s owners as:
Huaxia Airlines is also known as China Express Airlines. Officials at the airline were not immediately available for comment.
CR Airways earlier this year was leasing two CRJ200s from Shandong Airlines but since then the
Source: Flight International
