Air Guilin has its origins in Guangxi Airlines, formed in 2013 by HNA Group and the Guilin Municipal Government.[5] This airline was renamed Guilin Airlines in 2014 and planned to commence operations in May of that year, although this did not occur.[3][4] On 8 September 2015, Guilin Airlines received preliminary approval from the CAAC.[6] In October the airline decided to use Airbus A319 aircraft for its fleet.[7]
Guilin Airlines was renamed Air Guilin in late 2015. On 9 December it unveiled its logo, which incorporates Guilin landmark Elephant Trunk Hill and the slogan of the city.[8] Air Guilin commenced operations on 25 June 2016 with a flight between Guilin and Zhengzhou.[9][10]
Corporate affairs
Air Guilin is a joint venture between Guilin Tourism Development Co. (60%) and Guilin Aviation Tourism Group (40%), an HNA Group subsidiary. The groups have invested a total of ¥600 million in the airline.[6][8]
On January 4, 2019, the captain of Guilin Airlines Flight 1011, an Airbus A319 from Guilin to Yangzhou, let a female passenger into the cockpit regardless of air safety regulations. The incident was exposed to public on November 4, and the captain was grounded for life.[13]
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