Air ChangAn has received its Air Operator's Certificate from CAAC Northwest Regional Administration and is set to start operations as an independent carrier. It marks a revival of the former ChangAn Airlines, which first launched in 1992 and later merged with Hainan Airlines.

The Xi'an-based carrier said Tuesday it will launch its first flight in early May, ending years of providing capacity to Hainan Airlines.

The new airline will initially operate a fleet of five Boeing 737 aircraft from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Operating under the "9H" flight code, it will operate domestic routes in northwest China before flying abroad, with a key focus on cities along the former Silk Road in Central Asia and beyond.

Air Changan will become the seventh Chinese carrier with an operating base in Xi'an, following China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Joy Air and Shenzhen Airlines.

Last September, Hainan Airlines took an additional 21.9% stake in Air ChangAn through a 1.01 billion yuan share purchase, raising its stake to 83.3%.