The newly established Ningbo Airlines has set up its headquarters in Ningbo Lishe International Airport and plans to become the top carrier in the Ningbo aviation market with a fleet of 16-20 aircraft by 2020.
The Ningbo Municipality signed a strategic partnership agreement with Hainan Airlines Group on June 8 to cooperate in the areas of industry and regional development on aviation.
Both parties will jointly develop Ningbo Airlines and operate regular passenger service of corporate jets and seaplanes as well as establish joint airport investment and develop “smart airports”.
There will also be a cargo joint venture to develop multiple freight connections covering air, land and sea, and service the Ningbo Economic Zone.
They also plan to develop an aviation industrial park for operating aircraft maintenance, logistics and warehousing and the production of a refrigeration chain.
Ningbo’s Mayor Ziyue Lu said Ningbo is an important economic center of the Yangtze River Delta blessed with rich cultural essence, a natural harbor and a solid industrial foundation. Ningbo had already implemented the central government’s “one belt one road” and Yangtze River industrial belt construction strategies and launched the construction of the economic harbor zone of Ningbo.
By forming a partnership with Hainan Airlines Group, Ningbo could fly higher with its aviation aspiration and make leverage the international airport to spur economic growth in Ningbo.
Hainan Airlines Group’s director Feng Chen said the group is the only Chinese aviation conglomerate that has developed major international operations in aviation, businesses, financing, tourism and logistics in just over 20 years of development. Hainan Aviation Group welcomes an extensive partnership with Ningbo and will consider investments sin Ningbo as key strategic moves for the group.(Translation by David)
