Hong Kong's first regional jet operator, CR Airways, has launched charter services and hopes to become a scheduled operator next year. The carrier is operating a single 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 on services to nearby points within Asia, after securing its air operator's certificate from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation department.
It has begun with regular services on behalf of travel agencies between Hong Kong and Laoag in the Philippines, and says it expects to operate to other Asian points and in particular secondary destinations in China. It plans to have a second CRJ200 by the end of this year and aims to apply for scheduled service rights early next year. CR Airways started operating early last year as a helicopter charter firm.
No regional jet aircraft are currently based in Hong Kong, although several companies have studied operations to secondary points in China in recent years.
More than two years ago another Hong Kong-based helicopter operator, Helicopters Hong Kong, held talks with China's Hainan Airlines aimed at establishing a new joint-venture airline to operate regional jets to destinations in China and elsewhere, although no agreement was finalised.
Dragonair, Hong Kong's second-largest carrier after Cathay Pacific Airways, has separately been considering adding regional jet aircraft to its all-Airbus passenger fleet for some time.
Source: Airline Business