East Star Airlines

The airline received its air operator's certificate from the CAAC on 10 June 2005, and started operations on 19 May 2006. It was wholly owned by the China East Star Group and had 541 employees (at March 2007).[2] Its inaugural flight was from Wuhan to Shenzhen using its first Airbus A319.[3]

On 27 November 2005, the airline signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus for the purchase of 10 Airbus A320s plus a firm lease deal with GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) for another 10 Airbus A320s. The aircraft were to be delivered in batches from the second quarter of 2006.[4]

In July 2007, it was granted rights to operate international services after only a year of service, the first privately owned Chinese airline to be granted permission to operate international flights before Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) requirement of three-year service.[5]

On 15 March 2009, the airline announced that it was suspending its flights indefinitely.[1][6] On 30 March 2009, the airline was liquidated by the Wuhan Mid-Court.

On 27 August 2009, the airline officially went bankrupt, after the Intermediate People's Court of Wuhan rejected its last restructuring plan because the investment firm ChinaEquity that had promised to invest between CNY 200 and 300 million, did not specify the source of the funding, failed to provide certificates and documents, and lacked measures to protect creditors, the court stated.[7]

East Star Airlines destinations included (at March 2009):

East Star Airlines Airbus A319

The East Star Airlines fleet included the following aircraft (at 2 March 2009):[8]

Media related to East Star Air at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website