Airport Authority claims HK Airlines jets

Hong Kong Airlines has faced financial problems in recent months. Image: Shutterstock

The Airport Authority says it has taken control of seven Hong Kong Airlines aircraft as it chases unpaid bills from the troubled carrier, which was threatened with the loss of its licence earlier this month.



The authority said that if the airline did not make good on the charges it was owed within 60 days it would seek to sell the aircraft, which have not been used for passengers services recently. It did not specify what charges the airline had failed to pay.



Last month, the carrier was unable to pay some of its staff on time, citing difficult conditions amid six months of social unrest in the SAR.



The Air Transport Licensing Authority later warned that it was prepared to revoke or suspend the airline's licence if it did not secure sufficient cash or cash alternatives to maintain its operations.



The authority withdrew its threat earlier this month after the airline, with the help of a 4 million yuan loan secured by its controlling party, mainland conglomerate HNA Group, was able to improve its position.



Earlier this year it unloaded another low-cost carrier – HK Express – to rival Cathay Pacific and it also cut some operations.