Hainan Air seeks assets abroad to build global network

Beijing

LIKE its acquisitive parent HNA Group, Hainan Airlines Holding Co is looking to bolster growth by buying assets on its own outside China, undeterred by potential headwinds posed by regulatory scrutiny of the parent's overseas deals.

The nation's fourth-largest carrier is exploring airlines and companies along the industry's "value chain", president Sun Jianfeng said in an interview, without elaborating. As part of its growth strategy, Hainan Air will double down on international flights from the nation's second-tier cities where a travel boom is under way as it takes on bigger state-owned rivals, he said.