China's 1st village-run airline open for business

Jiangsu Huaxi General Aviation Co Ltd, China's first village-run airline, got its operation certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China on July 26, meaning the carrier has been open for business since then, the local government said.

A helicopter belonged to Jiangsu Huaxi General Aviation Co Ltd flies over a tall building in Huaxi village, East China's Jiangsu province, Oct, 8, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Huaxi Group Co Ltd — a business in Jiangsu province's Huaxi village, the richest village in China. The group has invested about 100 million yuan ($15.69 million) in the airline since July 2011.

The airline currently has two helicopters and will provide helicopter tour of the village.

The carrier plans to enlarge its fleet to five helicopters and one business jet by 2015, and its business also will offer tours around the main cities in the Yangtze River Delta region, the local government said.

The huge potential of China's general-aviation market attracts enterprises. But some business insiders cautioned that the industry still has to deal with several problems, including the strict policy on flights and the lack of pilots and crew members.