Xiamen Airlines has set up a branch in Hunan province with an opening ceremony held at Changsha airport on May 5.

Opening ceremony of Xiamen Airline Hunan branch held on May 5 in Changsha airport. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Hunan branch is the airline’s fifth. The other four branches are in Fuzhou, Nanchang, Hangzhou and Tianjin, and it will soon open a Beijing branch.

“Establishing the Hunan branch is a strategic step for Xiamen Airlines to develop business in China’s central and western areas,” said Che Shanglun, chairman of Xiamen Airlines.

He added that Xiamen Airlines will invest three to six aircraft in the Hunan branch in the first year and will strive to increase the number to 15 within five years.

Xiamen Airlines opened the Xiamen-Changsha air service in 1992 and established an operating base in Hunan at the end of 2008. In 2009, Xiamen Airlines flew the first direct charter flight between Hunan and Taiwan.