Hong Kong Express Airways’ plan to launch a cargo service in September is being blocked by one of its shareholders. Andrew Tse, who owns close to 15 per cent of the small city airline that is controlled by the mainland’s HNA Group, filed an objection with the Air Transport Licensing Authority after Hong Kong Express applied for a cargo licence, the South China Morning Post reported. The airline withdrew the application but has since submitted another one. Tse, a nephew of Macau billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-sun, said management promised the board in a meeting in April it would present a detailed business plan for the cargo service.

The airline, which offers passenger services to mainland and Asian cities, planned to operate three weekly cargo flights from Hong Kong to Luxembourg via Abu Dhabi from 18 September, president Yang Jianhong said. He said the air-cargo business was showing “green shoots” and the firm wanted to get in early to seize on low aircraft leasing fees. Hong Kong Express has been granted a three-month licence by the Civil Aviation Department to lease a Boeing 747-400 freighter from Taiwan’s China Airlines. But before it becomes permanent, the airline has to be given a cargo licence by the Air Transport Licensing Authority.