China’s civil aviation authorities have rubber-stamped air freight operations for new Chinese freighter carrier Tianjin Air Cargo, according to a report online.
Chinese publisher Xinhuanet.com reports that the carrier based in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of China was given approval by the North China Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Thursday.
CAAC has reportedly issued the airline with its operation qualification certificate under the CCAR-Part 121 – China’s operation specification for major passenger airliners and cargo fleet carriers meaning Tianjin Air Cargo is now authorised to start air freight services.
Tianjin Cargo Airlines is a subsidiary of the HNA Group with Tianjin Airlines holding a 44 per cent stake; Tianjin Aviation Logistics Co. a 43 per cent share; and Yang Hang Investment Holding Co. the remaining 13 per cent.
The Chinese cargo carrier will start with three Boeing 737Fs and serve the likes of Urumqi, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Seoul, Hanoi, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo.
Tianjin Cargo Airlines is targeting handling 15,000 tonnes of cargo this year, but has ambitious expansion plans and is looking to grow its fleet to somewhere between 50-100 aircraft over the next five years, expanding its route network.
