Chinese start-up leases three aircraft and signs MoU with Airbus for 40 more
Chinese start-up Juneyao Airlines is about to receive its first aircraft, an Airbus A319 on lease from GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), and has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 40 aircraft, including widebodies.
Juneyao says that this year it will introduce three aircraft - two A319s and one A320 - all leased from GECAS. The airline adds that it has signed an MoU with Airbus for a mix of 40 Airbus A320 family aircraft and A330s to be delivered over the 2007-2010 period. Juneyao has yet to sign a firm contract for the 40 aircraft and the MoU is subject to review each year. The airline plans to launch commercial operations as soon as its first aircraft arrives later this month.
Juneyao will operate to Chinese destinations from its base at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, which is solely a domestic airport, and has also applied to have a base at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, although it plans to wait until 2008 before launching international services. Next year the airline plans to induct at least 13 aircraft, with it planning to compete as a full-service airline pitched squarely at "the high-end business traveller".
Juneyao Airlines recently changed its English written name from Junyao. It changed the name to Juneyao because it wanted a name that was slightly anglicised. Earlier this year it was looking at adopting the English name Phoenix Airlines, but decided against it.
Source: Flight International
