A few days ago, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce issued the Market Access Negative List (2018 version), which marked the full implementation of the negative list system in China. Market participants can operate in any industries, sectors and businesses other than those stated in the list on equal footing. Among the list, 33 administrative measures in eight categories involve civil aviation.

The eight categories are as follows: one shall not be engaged in the design, production, use, import and export of civil aircraft and related products without license; one cannot build, renovate or expand civil airports or carry out related business at airports without permission; one cannot operate civil aviation flight, transport and other services without license or qualification; one cannot engage in civil aircraft maintenance and reprint, exchange, resale and transfer of civil aviation materials without license; one cannot engage in civil aviation training without permission or certification; one cannot invest in important civil aviation areas such as joint restructuring of civil aviation enterprises and airports without permission; one cannot invest in the construction of specific transport projects without permission; and non-government designated institutions are prohibited to invest in air traffic management systems.