Air China, officiallyAir China Limited, (中国国际航空公司,Zhōngguó guójì hángkōng gōngsī) is a major Chinese airline and theflag carrier of thePeople's Republic of China. It is headquartered inShunyi,Beijing. The airline offers both domestic and international flights to different destinations around China and the world.
The airline was established in 1988 after the former Chinese flag carrierCAAC was split into six airlines, one of them being Air China; it later merged with several of the successor airlines. Air China is now one of the largest airlines in China. It is 53.46% owned by the state-ownedChina National Aviation Holding.
Air China's hub airports are inBeijing andChengdu. In 2017, the airline carried 102 million domestic and international passengers with an averageload factor of 81%.[3] The airline joinedStar Alliance in 2007.
In January 2001, the former CAAC's six airlines agreed on a merger plan,[6] according to which Air China was to acquireChina Southwest Airlines. Before this acquisition, Air China was the country's fourth largest domestic airline. The merger created a group with assets of 56 billion yuan (US$8.63 billion) and a fleet of 118 aircraft.[7] In October 2002, Air China consolidated with theChina National Aviation Holding andChina Southwest Airlines.[8]
In July 2009, Air China acquired $19.3 million of shares from its troubled subsidiaryAir Macau, lifting its stake in the carrier from 51% to 81%.[12] One month later, Air China spent HK$6.3 billion (US$813 million) to raise its stake inCathay Pacific from 17.5% to 30%, expanding its presence in Hong Kong.[13]
In April 2010, Air China completed the increase of shareholdings inShenzhen Airlines and became the controlling shareholder of Shenzhen Airlines, allowing Air China to further enhance its position inBeijing,Chengdu, andShanghai, as well as achieve a more balanced domestic network.[14]
On 2 December 2010, Air China received Spain's highest tourism industry award, the "Plaque for Tourist Merit." Air China was the first foreign airline to receive the award, which is given to organisations and individuals contributing to the Spanish tourism industry.[15]
On 23 December 2010, Air China became the first Chinese airline to offer combined tickets that include domestic flights and shuttle bus services to nearby cities. The first combined flight-shuttle bus ticket connectedTianjin via shuttle bus with domestic flights passing through Beijing.[16]
Air China began offering free Wi-Fi internet service on board its aircraft on 15 November 2011, making it the first Chinese carrier to offer this service.[17] However the service is not allowed on smartphones, but only on tablets and laptops.[18]
In 2012, after pressure fromPETA, Air China stated that it would no longer transport monkeys to laboratories. PETA welcomed the airline's announcement.[19]
On 3 July 2013, in time for the company's 25th anniversary, Air China successfully testedWireless LAN in flight. It was the first global satellite internet flight inMainland China.[20]
In early 2015, it was announced that the airline had selected the Boeing 737 Next Generation and 737 MAX for its fleet renewal programme of 60 aircraft. The deal, with a value of over $6 billion at current list prices, has yet to be finalised.[21]
On 15 October 2025, Air China's regional subsidiary,Air China Inner Mongolia, was re-integrated, becoming a branch of the national carrier.[22]
Air China HQ buildingCurrent uniform of Air China (2003–present), designed by Olivier Lapidus, son ofTed Lapidus
The entity Air China Limited was registered in 2003, and its shares began trading inHong Kong andLondon on 15 December 2004. Originally, the airline corporate entity was Air China International, which was founded in 2002. Air China International incorporatedChina Southwest Airlines and the air transportation services of theChina National Aviation Corporation, becoming a new entity.[23]
The Air China HQ Building (国航总部大楼;國航總部大樓;Guó Háng Zǒngbù Dàlóu), the corporate headquarters, is located in Zone A of the Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone (天竺空港工业区;天竺空港工業區;Tiānzhú Kōng Gǎng Gōngyèqū) inShunyi District,Beijing.[23][24][25] The companyregistered office is on the ninth floor of the Blue Sky Mansion (蓝天大厦;藍天大廈;Lántiān Dàshà), also in Zone A of the Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone.[26]
The enterprise logo of Air China consists of an artisticFenghuang pattern designed by artist Han Meilin.[28] The phoenix logo is also the artistic transfiguration of the word "VIP". The Chinese text for the name of the airline is written in calligraphy by former national leaderDeng Xiaoping. The English name "AIR CHINA" is also present. Air China is a member of theStar Alliance.
In summer 2011, Air China introduced the new Airbus A330-300 on long-haul services, starting withDüsseldorf, Germany. The aircraft featured the same two-class layout as the Airbus A330-200, but the economy cabin lacked seat-back entertainment, except in the first two rows, which also offered extra legroom. Düsseldorf became the third German destination in Air China's network. The airline launched a new Beijing-Milan-Malpensa service on 15 June 2011, complementing the airline's existing service to Milan from Shanghai.
Deliveries of the carrier's 19 newBoeing 777-300ERs commenced in mid 2011, with the aircraft forming the new "backbone of its future long-haul operations." The new Boeing 777-300ERs replaced theBoeing 747-400s on routes to U.S. destinations such asLos Angeles,New York, andSan Francisco, but was expected to first enter service on flights to Paris from March 2012. The Boeing 777-300ER began to replace most 747 services once sufficient numbers entered the fleet.[31] Air China expanded its operations in India with a Beijing-Mumbai route in September 2011, while the existing Delhi route was upgraded to the A330.[32] The airline also launched service to Mumbai from Chengdu on 2 May 2012.[33] The airline began using the Boeing 777-300ER on one of its two daily Beijing-Los Angeles flights on 1 June 2012.[34] From late 2012 to early 2013, the airline replaced the Boeing 747-400s servicing the New York and San Francisco routes with the Boeing 777-300ER.[35] With the addition of the Boeing 777-300ERs on the US routes, Air China increased frequency on the Beijing-New York route, changing the flights from 7 to 11 flights a week by adding two new flights to the route (CA989/990).[36] On 21 January 2014, the airline launched its service to Hawaii with flights from Beijing to Honolulu, the first nonstop flights between the two cities.[37] The airline also increased the frequency of service on the Beijing-Houston Intercontinental route from four times weekly to daily service from 30 March 2014.[38] Beginning 10 June 2014, Air China introduced new nonstop service from Beijing toWashington-Dulles, operated by aBoeing 777-300ER.[39] As of 29 September 2015, Air China also introduced a three times weekly flight toMontréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in a codeshare with Air Canada.[40] The Montreal flight was extended toHavana from 27 December 2015.
Air China started its direct flights to Johannesburg, South Africa from 29 October 2015.[41]
The Forbidden Pavillion on the Boeing 777-300ER and 747-8 is Air China's latest flagship product, featuring Zodiac Aerospace Venus suites featuring a row pitch of 82-83 inches, and a seat width of 23 inches. The seat also features 23 inch AVODs and also has Universal AC and USB-A sockets available.[citation needed]
Forbidden Pavillion on the 747-400 has 80-inch (203 cm) seat pitch, swiveling seat power, and fully flat bed recline. First Class on the 747-400 is one of two classes that sports AVOD screens. It is namedForbidden Pavilion due to its place in the cabin.
On Air China's narrow-body fleet, business class seats are recliners arranged in an 2-2 configuration.[80]
Capital Pavillion on an Air ChinaBoeing 777-300ER. Similar seats are used on Air China's Boeing 747-8s and 787s.
On theBoeing 747-8,Boeing 777-300ER andBoeing 787, the Capital Pavillion would be located at the front of the cabin in a 2-2-2 configuration. They feature Collins Parallel Diamond seats, which can convert into a 6'-4" lie-flat bed. The seats have a width of 21 inches, and also feature a 15-16 inch touchscreen along with Universal AC and USB-A sockets.[citation needed] On the Boeing 747s, Capital Pavillion is located in the nose of the aircraft and the Upper Deck, with a painted collage of theSummer Palace, which symbolizes good luck in China. On theBoeing 747-400, the seats have partial recline, with a touch-screen function and remote function IFE screen on the back of seats and also located in the armrests. It was located in a 2-2-2 configuration at the back, with 2-2 rows continuing to the front and on the Upper Deck. These seats feature seat-back AVOD screens.
The Capital Pavillion on theAirbus A330 would be located in a small area at the front of the cabin. On newer A330s, they feature Zodiac Aura Lite, which consists of rectangle-like seats, with two reading lights located between seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and seat-back screens would be provided. These seats provide full recline and can convert into a 6'-4" lie-flat bed. The seats also have a row pitch of 79 inches, a seat width of 21 inches, and also features a 15 inch touch screen display, as well as Universal AC and USB-A sockets.[citation needed] On older A330s, the screens would be smaller and there would be no storage space between screens, and a recline of 165 degrees.[citation needed]
TheAirbus A350 feature Air China's latest product. On older A350s, the seats feature areverse herringboneCollins Aerospace Super-Diamond seat arrangement at the front of the cabin in 8 1-2-1 configurated rows. The seats would be full flat reclinable, along with a shoulder belt for safety. There are no mid-overhead bins, allowing the cabin to look and feel bigger. There would also be aisle access to all seats, and 18-inch HD IFE screens.[citation needed] On newer Airbus A350s, the cabin features Recaro CL6720 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats can convert to a 6'-4" lie-flat bed, and has a seat width of 21 inches. Each seat features a 18 inch HD touch screen display and Universal AC and USB-A sockets.[citation needed]
Premium economy is offered on all of Air China'sAirbus A330-300,Airbus A350-900,Boeing 747-8 andBoeing 787-9.[80]The Premium Economy class on the A350-900 is the newest product, with extra recline, a seat pitch of 38.5-39 inches and a seat width of 18.5 inches, in a 2-4-2 configuration. Premium Economy on A330-300s, 747-8s and 787-9s have a seat pitch of 36-38 inches and a width of 17.1-18 inches. In older A330s, these seats also featured AVOD screens and headrests, which the Economy Class did not.[80]
Economy class is offered on all Air China aircraft. IFE with AVOD functionality is available onBoeing 777-300ER,Boeing 787-9,Airbus A350-900,Boeing 747 and newerAirbus A330 aircraft with different screen sizes and different systems fromPanasonic andThales. Universal power port and USB availability is different upon aircraft. Seats typically have a seat pitch of 31 inches, and a width of 17-18 inches, depending on aircraft. On Airbus A330s, economy class is in a 2-4-2 configuration, whilst on Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, a 3-3-3 configuration is present. Boeing 747s and 777s have a 3-4-3 configuration. All narrowbody jets are configured in a 3-3 configuration except for the Comac ARJ21s, which have a 3-2 configuration.[80]
Air China Cargo, is a subsidiary of Air China, that focuses on freight delivery and does not transport passengers. It operates routes across Asia, Europe and North America with its fleet ofAirbus A330-200/P2F,Boeing 747-400F andBoeing 777F.
On 27 August 2019, Air China Flight 183, anAirbus A330-343X fromBeijing toTokyo,Japan, was damaged beyond repair due to a cargo fire while on the ground at Beijing just shortly before departure. No one was injured.[85][86]
Air China'sinflight magazineWings of China faced accusations of racism when they stated "London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis, and black people." in their September 2016 issue.[87][88] On 8 September 2016, Air China issued an apology.[89] Air China Media, which publishes theWings of China magazine, said it wished to apologise to "readers and passengers who are feeling uncomfortable".[90] It added: "This invariably inappropriate description... was purely a work mistake by the editors and it's not the magazine's views... We will immediately recall this entire issue of magazines and draw lessons from this incident."[91][92]
Due to the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, European carriers have ceased to use Russian airspace, significantly increasing the length, and therefore cost, of their flights to and from China. Air China continues to operate flights to and from Russia and this strategy has bolstered its dominance in the China–Europe market, but brought accusations of unfair competition.[93][94][95]
^ab""Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2010"(PDF).Air China. p. 7. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 12 January 2012. Retrieved12 October 2012.Headquarter location No. 30, Tianzhu Road, Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone, Beijing, China
^""Membership".IATA. Archived fromthe original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved12 October 2012.Air China Limited West 6th Floor Air China HQ Building No 30 Tianzhu Road Tianzhu Airport Economic Development Zone Beijing China (People's Republic of) 100621
^联系我们 (in Chinese (China)). Air China. Archived fromthe original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved12 October 2012.北京市顺义区天竺空港经济开发区天柱路30号国航总部大楼E410房间
^""Interim Report 2012"(PDF).Air China. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 16 January 2015. Retrieved12 October 2012.The registered office of the Company is located at 9th Floor, Blue Sky Mansion, 28 Tianzhu Road, Zone A, Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone, Shunyi District, Beijing 101312, the PRC.