Okay Airways set for take-off

Okay Airways is expected to become the first of a spate of private airlines to take to China's skies later this year, Xinhua news agency reported. The airline plans to begin cargo and charter passenger flights operating a fleet of six Boeing 737s from a base at Tianjin's Binhai International Airport. With a launch capital of US$36.5 million the company plans to operate using leased aircraft. Two other private airlines – United Eagle Airlines, based in Sichuan province, and Air Spring, based at Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport are undergoing final approval and are expected to begin services early in 2005.