In the latest innovative move in the continued China airline growth, HNA Group has built on the synergies within its company portfolio to launch the world’s first low-cost carrier alliance. The U-FLY alliance brings together three of the group’s regional businesses in China to established a combined network of 85 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region with a total of 168 city pair options for travellers.
Hong Kong-based HK Express is taking a leading role in the formation of the new grouping, which it describes as a game-changer for the airline industry and which will work to make travel more affordable and accessible than ever before. It will be joined in U-FLY by Kunming-based Lucky Air, Urumqi-based Urumqi Air and Chongqing-based West Air and others could follow in the future.
“With the launch of the first LCC alliance in the world, we are entering into a new era of travel that speaks to what travellers really want: flexible and affordable routes that are also safe and secure,” said Andrew Cowen, Chief Executive Officer of HK Express and head of the U-FLY Alliance.
“Thanks to the cooperation from the innovative low-fare airlines, we are able to connect travellers from Asia and Greater China to an ever-increasing network of cities,” he added.
The route maps below highlight the U-FLY network from its four bases at Changshui International Airport in Kunming, Diwopu International Airport in Urumqi, Hong Kong International Airport and Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing.
![U-FLY Chongqing](https://static.routesonline.com/images/cached/upload-17683-standard-650x450.jpg)
![U-FLY Hong Kong](https://static.routesonline.com/images/cached/upload-17682-standard-650x450.jpg)
![U-FLY Kunming](https://static.routesonline.com/images/cached/upload-17684-standard-650x450.jpg)
![U-FLY Urumqi](https://static.routesonline.com/images/cached/upload-17685-standard-650x450.jpg)
The linking of the four carriers’ networks mean that new direct, one-stop flight options will be available under the auspices of U-FLY including international options like Lhasa to Tokyo and Harbin to Phuket. There will be an obvious focus on China initially but as other LCCs join the goal of U-FLY is to develop a pan-Asian offering which provides an expanded network for low-fare travel across the region.
As part of the U-FLY Alliance roll-out, enhanced reservations and airport procedures to facilitate streamlined transfers by Guests across airlines will be put in place in due course. A network alignment is also underway to facilitate new interline connections between specific city pairs and growth strategies will be employed to benefit future connectivity between the member airline networks.
Parameter | HK Express | Lucky Air | Urumqi Air | West Air | U-FLY Alliance |
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Aircraft (2015) | 13 | 28 | 6 | 20 | 67 |
Fleet Development (2020) | 50 | 60 | 48 | 60 | 200 |
Aircraft Type | A320/A321 | A319/A320/737 | 737-800 | A319/A320 | A319/A320/A321/737 |
Destination | 20 | 57 | 12 | 60 | 85 |
City Pairs | 20 | 78 | 16 | 64 | 168 |
Passengers (million) | 3.2 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 5. | 17.1 |
Daily Flights | 64 | 124 | 20 | 90 | 298 |