Jetstar Hong Kong, a low-cost carrier that is seeking regulatory approval for various licences, has appointed a Hong Kong chief executive to prove itself a genuine carrier in the city.
Edward Lau, who is the managing director for the Hong Kong office of Dutch express giant TNT, was appointed chief executive of Jetstar HK yesterday. He is the latest Hong Kong director to come on board after chief financial officer Howard Cheung and independent non-executive director Ronnie Choi Mow-sang. Lau's official last day at TNT will be this Saturday.
The airline, owned by Qantas' Jetstar Group and China Eastern Airlines, is waiting for an air operator's certificate, a procedure by which the Civil Aviation Department checks to see if the firm is technically competent in terms of its equipment, organisation, staffing and maintenance arrangements.
"It's a straightforward procedure, which normally takes around six months," a source familiar with the situation said.
The airline expects to get the certificate this month at the earliest and all operating licences are expected to be ready by the middle of the year.
The department said no timeline could be indicated for the approval of the certificate as Jetstar HK was still submitting the necessary information.