Jetstar Hong Kong sells 3 aircraft as it awaits approval

New budget airline Jetstar Hong Kong said Friday it has sold a total of six of its aircraft because it is taking longer than expected to get a licence to operate. The airline, which is a joint venture between Australia's Qantas, China Eastern Airlines and Hong Kong-based Shun Tak Holdings applied for regulatory approval in 2012 in the southern Chinese city. An airline will only be given a operation license if its principle place of business and centre of its decision-making is in Hong Kong, according to local laws. ‘Jetstar Hong Kong can confirm the sale of a further three aircraft, now a total of six Airbus 320s, with three remaining in the fleet for launch,’ the airline's chief executive officer Edward Lau told AFP in an email. The airline sold three A320s this month, and three in April. ‘This has been an unfortunate but prudent business decision made by the Jetstar Hong Kong board as the regulatory approvals are taking longer than initially expected,’ Lau said, adding that the sale doesn't affect the firm's readiness once approval is given, according to AFP.