China regulator asks HNA-backed airlines to settle bills

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has asked HNA Group’s airline businesses to pay overdue bills, including amounts owed for jet fuel and airport fees, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Authorities from the nation’s air-safety regulator had met with executives of the conglomerate to push for the payments, the person said. The regulator has refrained from further actions to avoid disruptions to flight operations and inconvenience to passengers, the person said. Representatives for Hainan Airlines and HNA Group couldn’t immediately comment. Earlier this month, Mingtiandi reported that the group’s Hainan Airlines received an ultimatum from a state-backed fuel supplier to pay all the arrears or have deliveries cut off within days. <br/>