China’s Kunming Airlines to fly from February 15, 2009

Kunming Airlines, based in Kunming, Yunnan province, People’s Republic of China, has announced that it would launch its first service on February 15, 2009, flying from Kunming to Changsha and then on to Harbin.

The Chinese media quoted Wang Qingmin, chief executive officer of Kunming Airlines, as announcing that the airline would get investment from Shenzhen Airlines. Kunming Airlines would also receive support from Shenzhen Airlines’ management and information technology (IT) systems.

Shenzhen Airlines, which owns 80% of Kunming Airlines, has already given to Kunming Airlines two Boeing B737-700 planes and one Boeing B737-800 plane as well as 30 pilots and 26 flight attendants to, the reports said.

Kunming Airlines, according to its chief executive officer, was also building what could be the fourth largest airport in China. The new airport was expected to boost Kunming city’s emergence as the main air hub between China, South-east Asia and South Asia, Wang Qingmin added.

Tickets for flights on Kunming Airlines are currently on sale across China.

The routes of Kunming Airlines’ initial flight will link Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, and Changsha as well as Harbin. The code of Kunming Airlines is KY, a statement from Shenzhen Airlines said.

The privately owned Kunming Airlines, set up in 2005, has a 15-year development plan, involving involves three stages of strategic development, the website gokunming.com reported.

According to the 15-year development plan, in the first three years (2008-2010), Kunming Airlines would assemble a fleet of 30-40 planes and set up an extensive flight network throughout Yunnan. The airline, during this stage, would also start routes to China’s provincial capitals and economically developed cities on the mainland – ultimately connecting these cities with major destinations in South-east Asia, Wang announced.

During the next five years (2010-2015), Kunming Airlines would work on upgrading its fleet to 80-100 aircraft and also set up hubs in Xi’an and Guangzhou even as it will strengthen its trunk routes and branch routes.

And, in the subsequent seven years (2015-2022), Kunming plans to expand its fleet of aircraft to 150-200 planes, start hubs in Tianjin and Hangzhou as well as focus on expanding its international reach.

Wang Qingmin was quoted by gokunming.com as remarking that the involvement of Shenzhen Airlines would bring in “more credibility” to Kunming Airlines, which was formally established in 2005.

Shenzhen Airlines is a domestic, low-fare airline based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Started in 1993, Shenzhen Airlines has been making profits for the last 14 years and it is also the largest privately held airline in China.