A concerted effort to develop a modern regional air transportation industry in China has finally begun, just in time for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games and as the country’s aerospace industry readies the indigenously developed ARJ21 regional jet for service. Not coincidentally, start-up domestic carrier Kunpeng Airlines secured an operating certificate just nine months after its partners inked a deal to launch service from Xian in northern China. Services began in late October with a pair of Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets formerly flown by Mesa Airlines in the U.S. Four months later, the airline appears to have found its balance, but more like an infant learning to take its first steps than a fully mature participant in a modern air transportation system.
Nevertheless, Kunpeng has drawn a fair share of attention, less due to any spectacular operational achievement than to its ownership structure and its subsequent status as holder of the largest order commitment for the ARJ21 and one of two Chinese customers for “up to” 100 Embraer 190s.
