Chinese aviation takes off

China’s aviation industry may still be in its infancy but it has undergone a rapid transformation over the last decade or so. Currently home to more than 20 commercial airlines, it’s now difficult to imagine that prior to Deng Xiaoping’s major political and economic reforms in the 1980s, air travel in China was only possible with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The first privately owned airline to serve China, Xiamen Airlines (now XiamenAir) was established in 1984, while the CAAC-founded China Xinjiang Airlines followed in 1985, serving a handful of international destinations including Moscow, Islamabad and Alamaty in addition to domestic routes (it later became part of China Southern Airlines, in 2003). Sensing the potential, Sichuan airlines was set up in 1986 to serve Western China. In late 1987, the Chinese government decided to split CAAC’s operating divisions into six separate regional airlines and one of those, Beijing-based Air China, became the country’s flag carrier. Two of CAAC’s other airlines, China Eastern and China Southern, were tasked with serving the eastern and southern part of China. Fastforward to 2014 and these three airlines are among the most profitable Chinese carriers and, along with Hainan Airlines, the most significant. The country even has its own budget airline, Shanghai-based Spring Airlines, which began operating low-cost domestic flights in 2005. Now flying to 15 international destinations, the airline’s ambitious growth typifies the determination of the Chinese aviation industry generally, which is now looking to challenge its Asian and international counterparts by upping the number of destinations it serves and further boosting fleet size. Air China (CA) Background Established in 1988 with its hub at Beijing Capital International Airport, China’s national flag carrier provides special flight services for the country’s state leaders on official visits to other countries. It joined Star Alliance in 2007 and is one of 27 Star Alliance members. Fleet size  Airbus • 30 A319-100s • 34 A320s • 42 A321s • 41 A330s • 5 A340-300s Boeing • 129 B737s • 8 B747s • 7 B757s • 1 B767 • 26 B777s • 7 B747Fs • 1 B757F • 1 B777F • 11 business jets Total: 343 Network CA operates 209 domestic routes and 82 international routes. By codesharing with its Star Alliance members, the airline has a presence in 195 countries, reaching over 1,300 destinations. International locations include Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Mumbai, Dubai, Moscow, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Rome, London, Paris, Munich, Vancouver and Los Angeles. Expansion plans In 2014, CA will receive new aircraft, update flight frequencies and flight models on certain routes, and launch new international routes. Besides continuing expansion of its domestic routes, CA will focus on the development of international services at its hub in Beijing. Routes to launch this year are Beijing-Hawaii, Beijing-Vienna-Barcelona, Beijing-Vladivostok, Shanghai-Munich, Beijing-Washington, Beijing-Jeju, Beijing-Yangon, Chengdu-Kunming-Yangon and Tianjin-Dailin-Osaka. B777-300ERs will serve routes flying to New York, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco and Washington, while A330-200s will serve routes flying from Shanghai to Paris, Milan, Frankfurt and Munich. The frequency of the Beijing-New York service will increase to 11 times a week, and Beijing-Los Angeles service will be offered twice daily. Air China highlight • By 2016, 116 more aircraft (seven of them B787s) will join the fleet.   Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) Background Shenzhen Airlines began operations in 1993 and its hub is situated at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. A member of Star Alliance since 2012, it serves more than 18 million passengers annually. Fleet size Airbus • 5 A319s • 61 A320s Boeing • 10 B737-700s • 59 B737-800s • 5 B737-900s Total: 140 Network The airline serves more than 160 destinations including Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore and Bangkok. Expansion plans Shenzhen Airlines will have four A320s and 16 B737-800s delivered this year, with a further three A320s and 13 B737-800s due by the end of 2015.   China Eastern Airlines (MU) Background Founded in 1988 with its hub at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, MU is one of China’s big four airlines alongside Air China, China Southern and Hainan Airlines. The carrier serves nearly 80 million travellers annually and ranks among the world’s top five airlines in terms of passenger transportation volume. A member of Skyteam since 2011, China Eastern has extended its flight network from Shanghai to 1,000 cities in 187 countries via Skyteam’s 19 other member airlines. Fleet size  Airbus • 6 A300-600s • 22 A319-100s • 144 A320-200s • 34 A321-200s • 23 A330-200s • 15 A330-300s • 5 A340-600s Boeing • 16 B737-300s • 41 B737-700s • 33 B737-800s • 7 B767-300s Others • 2 ERJ-135s • 9 ERJ-145s Total: 357 Network International destinations include Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Moscow, Rome, Paris, London, New York and Vancouver. Expansion plans This April, the airline will launch three services to Kaohsiung from Nanjing, Nanchang and Ningbo, while in June the airline will begin flights from Shanghai Pudong to Toronto. China Eastern highlights • City check-in in Seoul: MU is the first Chinese airline to offer in-town check-in at City Airport, Logis & Travel (CALT), a “city airport” in Samseong-dong, downtown Seoul. Passengers can complete luggage check-in and immigration then take the shuttle bus directly to Incheon Airport’s restricted area for boarding.   China Southern Airlines (CZ) Background Established in 1988, the airline operates more than 500 aircraft in China, and has the largest fleet operation in Asia. A member of Skyteam since 2007, its hub is at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. In 2013, passenger capacity surpassed 90 million, ranking it fifth among 240 members in IATA. Fleet size Airbus • 5 A380s • 27 A330s • 63 A321s • 114 A320s • 44 A319s Boeing • 8 B787s • 8 B777s • 19 B757s • 237 B737s • 8 B777Fs • 2 B747Fs Others • 20 E190s • 6 E145s Total: 561 Network China Southern operates more than 1,930 flights and flies to 190 destinations in 40 countries. Via partnerships with other Skyteam members, the airline is now linked to 187 countries and regions, and 1,024 destinations. International locations include Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Melbourne, Dubai, Paris, London, Los Angeles and Vancouver. Expansion plans CZ plans to update its fleet by adding more A320s, A330s, A777-300ERs and B787s over the next three years. It is also scheduled to launch the only direct flights to Frankfurt and New York from Guangzhou this year. China Southern highlights • It was the first airline in the world to operate the A380 and B787. • Similar to the “Kangaroo Route” concept of Qantas, CZ wants to establish the “Canton Route” to make Guangzhou an international aviation hub to link Australia with Europe. Canton Route destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth in Australia; and Paris, Amsterdam and London in Europe.   Xiamen Air (MF) Background Formerly Xiamen Airlines, the airline was established in 1984 with its main hub located at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport. A Skyteam member since 2012, it is owned by China Southern and will take delivery of more than 30 Boeing aircraft by 2015, doubling current capacity and volume. Fleet size • 17 B737-700s • 79 B737-800s • 6 B757-200s Total: 102 Network With more than 200 routes, the airline flies to over 60 domestic and international cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta. Expansion plans The carrier’s fleet will consist of 136 aircraft by 2015, including 30 B737-800s and six B787s. With 70 more aircraft on order from Boeing, the airline’s fleet size will pass the 200 mark by 2020. XiamenAir highlight • It will become the third Chinese operator of the B787.   Hainan Airlines (HU) Background Founded in 1993, Hainan Airlines first flight took off from Haikou to Beijing and its main base is at Haikou Meilan International Airport. It has since made Beijing Capital its other hub. It operates over 500 domestic and international routes and will take delivery of 27 new aircraft this year as it prepares to add more flights to the US and Europe. Its Beijing-Seattle flight launched in January this year. Fleet size Airbus • 3 A340-600s • 7 A330-300s • 7 A330-200s Boeing  • 6 B787s • 3 B767-300s • 104 B737-800s • 5 B737-700s • 1 B737-400 Total: 136 Network Hainan Airlines currently operates almost 500 domestic and international routes, reaching nearly 100 cities. International destinations include Bangkok, Singapore, Seattle, Chicago, Berlin and Brussels. Expansion plans Hainan Airlines will introduce a non-stop service from Beijing to Boston this June. Hainan Airlines highlight • It operates an all-premium A330 on its Taiyuan-Beijing and Taiyuan-Shenzhen routes.   Hebei Airlines (NS) Background Formerly known as Northeast Airlines, Hebei Airlines was rebranded in 2010 and started operations the same year with its hub at Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport. Fleet size Boeing • 4 B737-700s • 4 B737-800s Others • 5 EMB-190s Total: 13 Network NS only serves domestic destinations at present, including Shanghai, Chengdu and Dalian. Expansion plans By the end of 2015, the carrier’s aircraft number will increase to 20, and will be able to carry more than three million passengers a year. The airline also has plans to launch international services to as-yet-unconfirmed destinations.   Sichuan Airlines (3U) Background Sichuan Airlines was founded in 1986 and currently flies to more than 80 domestic and international destinations. Its hub is at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Fleet size • 22 A319-100s • 32 A320-200s • 22 A321-200s • 4 A330-200s • 2 A330-300s Total: 82 Network Sichuan Airlines is focused on international expansion, and flies to Seoul, Singapore, Jakarta, the Maldives, Phuket, Saipan, Vancouver and, since last December, twice weekly flights from Chongqing to Sydney. Expansion plans The airline intends to extend its fleet from 82 to 100 aircraft.   Chengdu Airlines (EU) Background Formerly known as United Eagle Airlines, Chengdu Airlines was established in 2010. Now under the Sichuan Airlines Group and headquartered at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. While its fleet size is modest, the carrier flies to more than 50 Chinese cities. Fleet size The airline has 13 Airbus aircraft in its fleet including three A319-100s and eight A320s. Network EU operates more than 50 domestic routes including Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Expansion plans By 2015, the airline will have 38 aircraft in its fleet. In addition to Airbus, China-made Comac ARJ21, a twin-engined regional airliner, will also be introduced for operations.   Spring Airlines (9C) Background The only low-cost carrier in China, Spring Airlines’ first took off in 2005 and launched its first international flight to the Japanese city of Ibaraki in 2010. With a tag line of “everyone can afford to take a flight” it offers seats from as little as RMB99 (US$16) from Shanghai to Dalian. Its main hub is at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Fleet size The budget airline has 40 A320s in its fleet. Network The airline operates 63 domestic and 14 international routes. International destinations include Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, Da Nang and Kota Kinabalu. Expansion plans The airline will launch its 15^th international flight, Shanghai-Singapore, this April.