HNA Group subsidiary Guilin Airlines makes first flight

China’s HNA Group subsidiary Guilin Airlines made its inaugural flight from Guilin to Zhengzhou June 25. The new venture has a registered capital of CNY600m ($94m), comprising 60% ownership by Guilin Tourism Development (with a CNY360m investment) and 40% ownership by Guilin Air Travel Group (with a CNY240m investment). Guilin Air Travel Group is a joint venture launched by HNA Group and the Guilin municipal government. In addition to the Guilin-Zhengzhou route, Guilin Airlines is expected to launch services from Guilin to Yinchuan, Jinan and Yangzhou with three Airbus A319s. It plans to expand its fleet to five aircraft this year and open more routes to Tianjin, Xi’an and Shijiazhuang. The new carrier is targeting 40 aircraft and 7m passenger boardings over the next five years.<br/>