Airline shapes up to offer low-cost flights

Guangzhou-based low-cost airline 9Air Co is expected to receive its license later this year, when it will be eying both the domestic and Southeast Asian markets.

It is scheduled to take delivery of a third plane from Boeing, in December. Its fleet will expand to nine planes next year and to 60 by 2020, said Huang Yui, assistant to the general manager of public relations at the company.

9Air was registered in April and includes Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines, Elion Resources Group and Macrolink Group among its investors. After it receives the approval for flying domestic routes, the company will apply for international routes, Huang said.

9Air's tickets are expected to be 20 to 30 percent cheaper than current market prices, he said.