Chinese startup Colorful Guizhou Airlines expects to make its maiden flight at the end of this year, according to a government official at the 2015 China Regional Aviation Forum on Tuesday.

The first locally-owned airline in Guizhou plans to commence operations by the year end, with its first E190 jet scheduled to be delivered on December 28, said Wu Qiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the People's Government of Guizhou Province at the forum.

In June 2015, Embraer and Colorful Guizhou Airlines signed an agreement for 17 E190s, including 7 firm orders and 10 options. The deal is worth US$834 million at list price if all options are exercised.

Colorful Guizhou Airlines was founded on June 19, 2015 with a registered capital of 1 billion yuan. The airline is 95% owned by Guizhou Industrial Investment (Group) Co., Ltd., with the rest 5% stake held by Weining County Construction Investment Group. It will target operating domestic passenger flights to cities in Guizhou and neighboring provinces.

Its establishment marks the end of the absence of a locally-owned airline in Guizhou and the start of improvements to regional aviation in western China.

The scope of the carrier's business covers transport of cargo, aviation advertising, mail delivery, cabin supply, catering industry, tourism and real estate industry. The fleet plan calls for 30 aircraft by 2020, and between 120 and 140 in the future.

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