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HK Express banned from expansion
November 10th 2017
HK Express, the Hong Kong-based low-cost subsidiary of HNA Aviation, has been banned from adding new aircraft and services to its operations, the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) announced on Thursday. Read More »
The sanctions follow the cancellation of several scheduled flights during last month’s "Golden Week" holiday that left thousands of travellers stranded.
The HKCAD ruled the cancellations were triggered by the resignations of HK Express safety and emergency procedures trainers and called for a review of internal management to prevent future such incidents.
HK Express said it had “proactively committed to the HKCAD that it will maintain its existing business and network capacity over the next six months and will do its utmost to make improvements across the company during this period”.
Despite the embarrassing ban, the Hong Kong Air Transport Licensing Authority this week renewed HK Express' license for five years as it believed the carrier is re-establishing its ability to provide sustainable passenger services.
HK Express has a fleet of 20 A320/A321s that fly to 20 destinations within a four-hour radius of Hong Kong.
HK Express last week appointed Li Dianchun as president. Li was previously the chief commercial officer at sister carrier, Hong Kong Airlines. In his new role Li will be working closely with executive chairman, Zhong Guosong, “to develop and determine strategies and policies for the airline’s business and operations”, the carrier said. Zhong has been acting HK Express CEO since a management shakeout in October that saw several senior staff depart the airline, including former CEO, Andrew Cowen.
