Okay Airlines, Beijing ??

[bafanguy]

Saw in today's paper that a new, private airline is about to start in China. No details were given.

Anyone know about airplane type, routes, source of pilots/agency ? Thanks.

[ltjng]

Okay Airways flies B737-300 and -900. The fleet will be expanded up to 6 aircraft by the end of the year. Regional route, with local pilots.

[bafanguy]

Itjng,

Thanks for the info. I understand there are some other new "private" airlines coming along in China too.

[ltjng]

Yes, Spring Air in Shanghai and United Eagle Airlines in Chengdu will start their operation in 2005.

[bafanguy]

Itjng,

These airlines are also using local pilots rather than expats ?

[ltjng]

Yes, simply because the labour here is much cheaper than getting expat pilots. Unless they are really short of crew supply or someone has extensive experience, such as training and check captains with appropriate ratings.

Expat pilots still exsist in China, all of them are captains. However, here is never short of co-pilots, just short of experienced crew.

[Capt Snooze]

A little more info here (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/27/content_419983.htm) ...........................................


Snooze

[astina]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/11/xin_550302111134010844810.jpg

www.chinadaily.com.cn

The first passenger flight of Okay Airways took off at 9:00am from Binhai International Airport in Tianjin - where it is based - then fly to Changsha in Central China en route for Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The aircraft being used is a 189-seat Boeing 737-900 leased from Korea Airlines.


Staff of the ground service waves goodbye to the pilot. [newsphoto]

Sui Guangming, the new company's executive president, acted as captain on the first flight.

The firm planned to begin operating last Saturday but was unable to do so as the necessary paperwork from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) was late arriving, said the company's president Liu Jieyin.

A ticket between Tianjin and Kunming on the first flight is 680 yuan (US$82) after a 40 per cent discount, a Tianjin-based travel agency told China Daily.

The ticket price for the trip between Tianjin and Changsha is usually 1,180 yuan (US$143), but just 710 yuan (US$86) on the first flight, the agency added.

The route is only operated by Okay Airways.


Ground service check the Boeing 737-900 of Okay Airways on March 10, 2005. [newsphoto]

The airline, funded by private investors from Beijing and Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province, has a registered capital of 300 million yuan (US$36 million).

It is committed to a low-cost strategy to engage in air cargo and express services plus passenger charter and ground distribution services.

The CAAC has also given the nod to three other private investors to set up airlines.

They are the Shanghai-based Spring International Airlines, the Chengdu-based Eagle Airlines and Huaxia Airlines in Gansu Province. It has been reported that Eagle Airlines will begin operating in June.

All three are said to be planning on having low costs to build a budget airline.

Okay Airways is taking off two weeks after the State Council released a new policy paper on "encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-State sector."


A man walks past a ticket office of Okay Airways, China's first private airline, at Tianjin Binhai International Airport March 10, 2005. The airline's maiden flight, from Tianjin to Kunming with a stopover in Changsha, is scheduled for March 11. [newsphoto]

Market competition will be further introduced in previously State monopolized sectors such as power supplies, telecommunications, railways, civil aviation and petroleum, the document said.

The document lowers the threshold for private businesses to enter sectors the State previously monopolized and grants them equal status to obtain financial resources.


A car drives out of the headquarters of Okay Airways, China's first private airline, in Tianjin March 10, 2005. [newsphoto]
It also promises to provide private businesses with comprehensive services and protect their legal rights and interests.

Insiders hailed the document as the nation's policy support for private businwesses, especially concerning market access and financing.

The growth of private businesses is still being held back after two decades of market-orientated reform.

The new airlines will face challenges from international counterparts as some foreign low-cost carriers have an eye on China's aviation sector.

there\'s a famale european pilot onboard as observer during their 1st fly

[bafanguy]

Understand they are taking expats but can't find agency/contact info for the new Chinese carriers. Can anyone help with this ? Thanks.

[ltjng]

I don't think they are using any agencies for hiring pilots.
As I said, due operating considerations, local pilots will have first priority.
Especially Mandarin speaking is important for their startup, coz these airlines will mainly operate regionally, and most (if not all) RT will be in Mandarin.

[mochiman]

Word on the street has it that joiners can expect to sign a bonding requirement for 10 years before you commence your sim training :hmm:

[bafanguy]

10 years ?!?!?!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Sign me up. I'll be dead before the ten years is up...joke's on them !!!

[KingAir]

Anybody have contact information by any chance? I googled them but no web site.

[Dart18]

Kingair

Try this one.

Address: A 4F, B Tower, East Gate Plaza, 29 Dongzhong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Post code: 100027.