The Xi'an-based carrier said Tuesday it will launch its first independent flight in early May, ending years of providing capacity to Hainan Airlines.

The airlines will initially operate a fleet of five Boeing 737 aircraft from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. It will operate domestic routes in northwest China before flying abroad, with a key focus on cities along the former Silk Road in Central Asia and beyond.

Air Changan will become the seventh Chinese carrier with an operating base in Xi'an, following China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Joy Air and Shenzhen Airlines.

Last September, Hainan Airlines took an additional 21.9% stake in Air ChangAn through a 1.01 billion yuan share purchase, raising its stake to 83.3%.