hen Okay Airways took off on its maiden flight from Tianjin to Changsha in March this year, it heralded a new beginning for China�s airline industry. Okay Airways is the first private airline in China. It initially launched operations in passenger charter services, but plans to add scheduled passenger and cargo services. It has already announced the addition of a new passenger route between Harbin and Tianjin Municipality, where the company is based.

Government-owned airlines dominate the aviation industry in China, with private airlines having to overcome regulatory barriers in the sizeable domestic market. If the state monopoly and strict pricing system are not discouraging enough, the private players also need government approval for flight routes and airplane purchases. ... more