Ruili Airlines (DR, Kunming Changshui) has secured official approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to expand its operational scope to include international air passenger and cargo transportation.

The confirmation was announced in a government statement issued this week.

Privately-owned Ruili Airlines operates a fleet of six B737-700s and three B737-800s on regular flights to twenty-three destinations throughout China. It has alluded to the launch of international flights before year-end. Ruili Airlines finalised an order with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) for six B787-9s in July 2016.