Low fare carrier Spring Airlines is planning for the maiden flight, but there is a lot to do to become a true budget airline. 

The privately owned Spring Airlines is actively preparing for the maiden trip next month.

As one of the four privately funded carriers in China, the Spring Airlines is aiming to build itself as a true budget airline.

"We want to sell tickets that are 20 percent cheaper than other airlines."

Spokesman of the Spring Airlines Li Weiming says although low-priced tickets receive warm welcome from customers, there are a lot of obstacles to address before cutting expenses.

According to Spring's plan, unlike traditional airlines, it will provide no in-flight meals in the price of the ticket and will only offer a bottle of mineral water.

It will also apply a separated ticket system to allow passengers to buy tickets online.

Last Wednesday, the aviation authority General Administration of Civil Aviation of China held a hearing about the budget operation.

As Li Weiming says, the proposal of budget airline caused a stir within the industry.

"There are objections from within the industry. They are asking for the same preferential policies we are asking from aviation authorities, such as cheaper landing and boarding expenses. Now that seems to be a problem to us."

There are other problems. Rising oil prices are pushing airlines to raise fares to offset fuel costs.

The problems also embarrassed China's first private airline, Okay Airways, which started operating in March.

The civil aviation authorities haven't made any decision favoring Spring Airlines.

Despite all the obstacles, the Spring Airlines are expecting to take off in mid July.

It has hired 35 pilots and leased three A-320 aircrafts. The maiden route is eying popular domestic destinations such as Yantan, Chengdu and Guilin.

There are about 20 carriers running budget airlines in Asia-Pacific region, but none of them are Chinese.
 
(CRI July 7, 2005)