China's startup Yunnan Hongtu Airlines (A6) is set to welcome its first Airbus A321 aircraft at Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) on Tuesday afternoon.

The A321 aircraft, Registration B-8285, is scheduled to take off from Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS) at 10:10 p.m. on Dec. 21 after delivery and arrive in Kunming at 3:00 p.m. the following day, with two stopovers in Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport (LDE) and Aktobe International Airport (AKX).

The first two aircraft of the Kunming-based carrier was transferred from Russia's UTair. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Kunming-based carrier's second A321 aircraft, Registration B-8318, has completed painting job and will be delivered to Hongtu Airlines in the near future.

In April 2015, Hongtu Airlines was approved by the CAAC to be set up with a registered capital of 600 million yuan, in which a consortium of private investors lead by Kunming Evergreen Financing will hold a 30% stake in the carrier, local tycoon Tang Longcheng will have 20%, with the remaining 50% equally contributed by a group of five local companies.

Positioned as a new carrier featuring Yunnan Province's local characteristics, Hongtu Airlines now is pursuing its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the CAAC with targets for a launch in December.

As the sixth airline based at Kunming Changshui airport, Hongtu Airlines will operate domestic passenger and cargo services out of Kunming, using Airbus A320 Family aircraft, according to an announcement released by the aviation watchdog.

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