Hainan Airlines has won Beijing approval to bring into operation seven Metro-23 light passenger aircraft from Fairchild Aircraft of the United States.
The airline, owned 21.1 per cent by an investment fund controlled by US financier George Soros, said approval was granted by the State Planning Commission and the Civic Aviation Administration of China.
The airline already has two 19-seat Metro 23s and nine Boeing 737s. The additions would bring its fleet to 20 aircraft.
Costs and funding methods have not been revealed, but company officials said bank loans and a proposed issue of domestic A shares could cover part of the costs.
The company listed B shares in Shanghai last month, raising US$33.3 million. It has a quota to issue 17.53 million A shares but officials said they were seeking a larger amount.
The airline also plans to buy seven 737 and three 767 jets over the next two years.
