China's first privately-owned airline, OK Air, has applied to China's aviation authorities to resume passenger services after suspending operations since Dec. 6.

The carrier submitted an application to the northeast bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to resume service on Jan. 21.

A company manager in Tianjin, who would not give his name, said Thursday that the airline was awaiting a safety inspection by the CAAC, which would decide whether it was eligible to resume flying.

OK Air suspended passenger services nine days ahead of a deadline for suspension set by the CAAC, which had ordered suspension from Dec. 15 after delays in its schedules.

The manager said the company ordered the temporary closure after airports refused to refuel aircraft unless cash was paid in advance, and because safety standards could not be ensured.

These problems had resulted from concerns over the company's financial situation and services on 20 routes were halted.

Management problems and a lack of capital support from Junyao had been cited as factors in the suspension.

The carrier started flying in March 2005. Shanghai-based Junyao Group, through the Beijing Transport Energy Shareholding Co., owns63 percent of the airline.

The company has 11 aircraft and about 800 employees. It ran domestic passenger routes serving the cities of Tianjin, Changsha,Hefei, Kunming, Harbin, Hangzhou, Haikou and Sanya.

OK Air's cargo service has been operating as scheduled.

Source: Xinhua