Joy Air to Launch this Month

A new regional airline based in Xi’an, China called Joy Air plans to launch revenue operations this month with three Xi’an Aircraft (XAC) MA-60 turboprops.
A joint venture between state-run aircraft maker AVIC I and minority holder China Eastern Airlines, the airline planned to begin route-proving tests last month from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport in northwest China. Plans call for the addition of 10 of Xi’an Aircraft’s lighter, more advanced MA-600s once that turboprop variant gains certification, expected later this year. The airline also plans to add Chinese-made ARJ21 regional jets after that model reaches the market late next year.