China launches its first private airline
{{date| March 11, 2005}}
[[Image:Flag of China.png|180px|right|Private airline service begins in China]]
China's first private airline [[w:Okay Airlines|Okay Airlines]] (奥凯航空 Aòkǎi Hángkōng) took off on its maiden flight today from Tianjin (200km north of Beijing) to Changsha (in Hunan province, central China) to Kunming (in Yunnan province).

The airline tried to start last Saturday, but it had problems with the paperwork from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The price of a ticket was CNY 1,180 (US$ 143), but customers for the first flight got a 40% discount.

According to China Daily, three more private airlines will exist: Shanghai-based ''Spring International Airlines'', Chengdu-based ''Eagle Airlines'', and Gansu province-based ''Huaxia Airlines''. 

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200503/11/eng20050311_176480.html |title=Private airline maiden flight jolting state-own monopoly  |author= |pub=The People's Daily |date=March 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/11/content_423787.htm |title=First private airline starts maiden flight |author=Cao Desheng |pub=China Daily |date=March 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4338891.stm |title=China private airline airborne  |author=Louisa Lim |pub= BBC News|date=March 11, 2005}}

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[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Published]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
Private airline service begins in China
China's first private airline Okay Airlines (奥凯航空 Aòkǎi Hángkōng) took off on its maiden flight today from Tianjin (200km north of Beijing) to Changsha (in Hunan province, central China) to Kunming (in Yunnan province).

The airline tried to start last Saturday, but it had problems with the paperwork from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The price of a ticket was CNY 1,180 (US$ 143), but customers for the first flight got a 40% discount.

According to China Daily, three more private airlines will exist: Shanghai-based Spring International Airlines, Chengdu-based Eagle Airlines, and Gansu province-based Huaxia Airlines. 

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China Asia Economy and business Published Tianjin