Hainan Airlines is moving forward with its plan to launch Hefei-based Anhui Airlines, though the specific timetable has yet to be fixed, according to ATW Online. The capital of Anhui Province, Hefei is located approximately 322 km west of Shanghai and the carrier is expected to be based at the new Hefei Xinqiao Airport which is scheduled to be operational in 2010, after starting construction earlier this year.
Hefei is next to the Yangtze River Delta Economic Region and industry analysts suggest that Hainan parent, HNA Group can tap this opportunity to grow its market share in the region as the “rise of Central China” appears to be accelerating.