Okay Airways
China's first privately established airline, providing domestic passenger and dedicated cargo services.
Last updated October 12, 2026
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Overview
Okay Airways, also styled as OK AIR, is a Chinese airline headquartered in Daxing District, Beijing. It operates both passenger flights and dedicated cargo services, with Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport identified as its principal hubs and Changsha Huanghua International Airport serving as a secondary hub. The carrier is notable for its place in the development of China's private aviation sector: it was established in June 2004 and became the first private-sector airline in China to receive an aviation carrier business license from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, issued in February 2005. The airline began commercial operations on 11 March 2005, flying from Tianjin to Changsha. Its launch marked an important change in China's airline market, which had historically been dominated by state-owned or state-controlled carriers. Okay Airways initially developed as a scheduled passenger airline, using Tianjin as an operational base and building a domestic network. Its business later expanded beyond passenger transportation into dedicated air freight. In March 2007, Okay Airways began cargo operations with three leased Boeing 737-300F freighters. The service was undertaken as a local partner of FedEx Express, giving the airline a role in the domestic air-cargo market while adding a second operating model alongside passenger flying. The cargo activity distinguished Okay Airways from airlines focused only on scheduled passenger services and reflected the importance of domestic logistics in China's expanding economy. The company experienced a major interruption in December 2008. Flights were suspended for one month beginning on 15 December because of a dispute between the airline and its shareholders. The event was a significant operational and corporate-affairs setback, although the available reference material does not establish the complete terms of the dispute or its long-term ownership consequences. Okay Airways has changed its Beijing headquarters over time. It was previously based in an Air China office facility in Zone A of the Tianzhu Industrial Zone in Shunyi District and had earlier been headquartered in Fengtai District. Its current headquarters are in Daxing District. Operationally, the airline has used an all-Boeing fleet in the period covered by the cited reference material. It formerly operated 13 Xian MA60 regional turboprop aircraft; those aircraft were transferred to Joy Air following the establishment of that airline on 30 October 2016. The airline announced substantial future-fleet plans in 2017. In June of that year it announced an order for 15 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, comprising seven 737 MAX 8s and eight 737 MAX 10s. In November 2017 it signed a firm order for five Boeing 787-9 aircraft. These announcements indicated an ambition to modernize and potentially broaden the carrier's fleet, although the supplied sources do not confirm the delivery status or operational deployment of every aircraft in those orders. As of July 2024, Okay Airways was described as operating passenger and cargo services, with its network and fleet subject to change. The brand's core identity remains that of a privately established Chinese airline combining scheduled passenger transportation with cargo capability.
History
Okay Airways was established in June 2004 during the gradual opening of China's civil aviation market to privately established carriers. In February 2005, it received an aviation carrier business license from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. This made it the first private-sector airline in China to obtain such authorization. Its inaugural passenger flight took place on 11 March 2005, operating from Tianjin to Changsha with 81 people on board. The airline initially concentrated on passenger operations, using Tianjin as an important base and developing domestic services. It later added dedicated cargo flying. In March 2007, Okay Airways leased three Boeing 737-300F freighters and started cargo services as a local partner of FedEx Express. The cargo business gave the company a second operating function and positioned it within China's growing domestic express and logistics market. Okay Airways suffered an operational interruption in late 2008. Flights were suspended for one month from 15 December because of a dispute between the carrier and its shareholders. The cited material identifies the cause and duration of the suspension but does not provide enough detail to describe the dispute's legal or financial resolution. The company has maintained a Beijing corporate presence while changing locations within the metropolitan area. It was previously headquartered in Fengtai District and later occupied an Air China office facility in Zone A of the Tianzhu Industrial Zone in Shunyi District. Its current headquarters are in Daxing District. Its principal operating hubs have been listed as Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, with Changsha Huanghua International Airport serving as a secondary hub. The airline formerly operated 13 Xian MA60 turboprops. Those aircraft were transferred to Joy Air after Joy Air was established on 30 October 2016, ending Okay Airways' operation of that regional aircraft type. By the period described in the July 2024 reference, the carrier's fleet was characterized as all-Boeing. Fleet planning became a prominent part of the airline's strategy in 2017. In June, Okay Airways announced an order for 15 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft: seven 737 MAX 8s and eight 737 MAX 10s. In November, it signed a firm order for five Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The supplied material does not establish how many aircraft from these announcements were ultimately delivered or placed into service. As described in the available reference material, Okay Airways remains an active Chinese airline providing passenger flights and dedicated cargo services. Its history combines the development of private airline ownership in China, domestic passenger-network growth, a cargo partnership with FedEx Express, periodic fleet changes, and the operational effects of a shareholder dispute.
- 2017
Boeing 737 MAX order announced
[1]The airline announced plans for 15 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, consisting of seven MAX 8s and eight MAX 10s.
- 2017
Boeing 787-9 order signed
[1]Okay Airways signed a firm order for five Boeing 787-9 aircraft in November.
- 2016
MA60 fleet transferred to Joy Air
[1]Okay Airways transferred its 13 Xian MA60 regional aircraft to Joy Air after that airline was established.
- 2008
One-month flight suspension
[1]Flights were suspended from 15 December for one month amid a dispute between the airline and its shareholders.
- 2007
Cargo business begins
[1]The airline started dedicated cargo services with three leased Boeing 737-300F aircraft and a local FedEx Express partnership.
- 2005
Carrier license granted
[1]The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the airline an aviation carrier business license in February.
- 2005
First passenger flight
[1]Okay Airways began passenger operations on 11 March with a Tianjin–Changsha flight.
- 2004
Company established
[1]Okay Airways was established in June as a privately established Chinese airline.
Products and positioning
A privately established Chinese airline combining domestic passenger transportation with dedicated cargo operations.
Passenger aviation · 2005
Scheduled passenger services
Okay Airways operates scheduled passenger flights, primarily within China. Its network has been associated with hubs at Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, with Changsha Huanghua International Airport identified as a secondary hub. The airline's first commercial service connected Tianjin and Changsha in March 2005.
Air cargo · 2007
Dedicated cargo services
The airline's dedicated cargo operation began in March 2007 using three leased Boeing 737-300F freighters. The service was conducted as a local partner of FedEx Express and complemented Okay Airways' passenger business with freight-focused aviation capacity.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2017
Boeing 737 MAX fleet planGeneration changeBackground
Okay Airways announced a plan to modernize or expand its narrow-body fleet.
Action taken
The airline announced an order for 15 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft: seven 737 MAX 8s and eight 737 MAX 10s.
Aftermath
The available material does not confirm final delivery or service-entry details for the announced aircraft.
2017
Boeing 787-9 fleet planGeneration changeBackground
The airline pursued a further fleet-development plan involving a wide-body Boeing aircraft type.
Action taken
Okay Airways signed a firm order for five Boeing 787-9 aircraft in November.
Aftermath
The supplied reference does not establish whether the aircraft were delivered or operated by the airline.
2008
Temporary suspension of flight operationsOtherBackground
A dispute between Okay Airways and its shareholders affected the airline's ability to continue normal operations.
Action taken
The carrier suspended flights for one month beginning on 15 December 2008.
Aftermath
The supplied reference confirms the duration and stated reason for the suspension but does not document the full resolution or longer-term corporate consequences.
Sources5 sources
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