News
Longhao Airlines expects AOC before year-end
November 25th 2016
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) will grant an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to cargo start-up, Longhao Airlines, before the end of the year, the regulator said on its website on Tuesday. Read More » The carrier will be based at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and initially operate three B737-300Fs on domestic and regional routes.
Longhao Airlines, which is wholly-owned by the Guangdong Longhao Aviation Group, was established in August 2015 with a registered capital of 400 million yuan ($61 million). Chairman Yao Weihui, the former China United Airlines CEO, plans for delivery of three more B737Fs in 2017 and have a fleet of 50 by 2025.
“Initially, we will act as a start-up cargo carrier and SF Express will be our major customer because our cargo capacities are mainly for meeting their cargo demands,” Yao said, adding the carrier would expand its business scale to passenger services at the proper time.
SF Express launched its own cargo carrier, SF Airlines, in 2009. The Shenzhen-based forwarder operates 36 B737, B757 and B767 freighters.
Separately, YTO Express subsidiary, YTO Cargo Airlines, intends to expand its fleet to 50 aircraft by 2020. It operates five freighters and has ordered 15 B737-800Fs.
China’s fast-growing e-commerce sector is expected to fuel the growth of local cargo airlines for decades to come.
