Jiangxi Airlines Thursday received its operation certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), paving the way for the start-up carrier to commence operations.

Jiangxi Airlines will make its first revenue flight from Nanchang to Urumuqi with a stopover in Xi'an on Friday.

Jiangxi Airlines is a joint venture between Xiamen Airlines and the Jiangxi provincial government.

The Nanchang-based carrier took delivery of its first aircraft on December 14 - a brand new Boeing 737-800 airplane painted with a dancing crane and blue and white porcelain on its tail. The aircraft, Registration B-5511, was transferred from parent Xiamen Airlines.

On January 17, another 737-800 aircraft, Registration B-5512, arrived at Nanchang Changbei International Airport and joined the fleet of Jiangxi Airlines, with the third one pending delivery after the Spring Festival Holiday.

The airline said it will add three more planes next year, and expects to operate a fleet of 20 by 2020.

Jiangxi Airlines will fly the Boeing 737 aircraft on domestic routes from Nanchang to Xi'an, Urumqi, Guiyang and Xiamen.