Spring Airlines (9C, Shanghai Hongqiao) is planning to establish its first international base at Osaka Kansai, Japan, Travel Media Daily has reported. The LCC is reportedly set to base 'several' A320-200s out of the airport with plans to increase connectivity between Osaka and China to over twenty cities by 2020.

According to the ch-aviation route database, Spring Airlines currently serves Chongqing, Lanzhou, Qingdao Jiaodong, Shanghai Pudong, Tianjin, and Wuhan from Osaka with plans to add service to Chengdu Shuangliu, Xi'an Xianyang, Zhengzhou, and Quanzhou by the end of the month.

Spring Airlines will become the third LCC to use Kansai as a base after Peach Aviation (MM, Osaka Kansai) and Jetstar Japan (GK, Tokyo Narita).