Hong Kong's Dragonair has won board approval to acquire regional jets for new services to China due for launch early next year.
Industry sources in Hong Kong say "active negotiations" are about to begin with BAE Systems, Bombardier, Embraer and Fairchild Dornier. Early delivery positions will give a supplier an edge, the sources say.
It is believed the carrier has not determined how many aircraft it requires, although it aims to start with a "relatively small number".
Dragonair is considering 50- and 70-seat aircraft for use on "thin" routes into mainland China. It holds extensive rights to operate to the country but feels services to many points will not be viable with its Airbus A320/321/330 fleets.
The carrier is the only Hong Kong-based airline operating to mainland China and has been looking at ways to expand services for some time but considers the A318 and A319 too large for flights to smaller cities.
Dragonair, which operates passenger services to 17 mainland Chinese cities and other destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, will be the first to operate regional jets out of Hong Kong.
The carrier is undergoing a fleet expansion following the signing last year of a new air services arrangement between Hong Kong and China that allows for a substantial increase in flights.
Chinese aviation authorities are aggressively promoting the use of regional jets in mainland China as the country works to build a "hub-and-spoke" network.
Hainan Airlines, a pioneer in the use of regional jets in China, has been considering the launch of a Hong Kong-based carrier in partnership with Helicopters Hong Kong. Discussions remain in the early stages but have covered the possibility of 50-seat jet services to southern China and other Asian destinations.
Source: Flight International
