Best Chinese Airlines List – Major, Minor, & Cargo

When it comes to official Chinese Airlines which hold an air operator certificate, there are a total of 9 major airlines and more than 28 minor airlines in Mainland China. There are also more than 200 airports in China which continues to grow. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan also have their own airlines as well. All of the Chinese airlines in this list below have registered certificates with the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
See Also >> Book a China Tour
Major Airlines In China
#1: Air China
(中国国际航空)
- Callsign: AIR CHINA
- IATA: CA
- ICAO: CCA
- Size Of Fleet: 414
Website: www.airchina.com
Phone: 0086-95583 | 0086-10-95583
Air China was founded in 1998 and is hardhearted in the capital of China, Beijing. It’s main hubs are Beijing and Chengdu with Shanghai as a secondary hub. The focused cities of this airline are Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hohhot, Shenzhen, and Tianjin. This is the largest fleet of our entire best Chinese Airlines list, which is why it’s listed as number 1.
See Also >> Air China Review
#2 – China Eastern Airlines
(中国东方航空)
- Callsign: CHINA EASTERN
- IATA: MU
- ICAO: CES
- Size Of Fleet: 541
Website: www.ceair.com
Phone: H.K.: 852-3665 8388
China Eastern Airlines is headquartered at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changning District, Shanghai. Founded over 30 years ago in 1988, it’s main hubs are Shanghai, Kunming, and Xi’an. With Secondary hubs in Beijing and Qingdao. The airline focus on these cities in China: Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Hong Kong, Lanzhou, Nanchang, Nanjing, Ningbo, Taiyuan, Wuhan, and Yantai.
See Also >> China Eastern Airlines Review
#3 – China Southern Airlines
(中国南方航空)
- Callsign: CHINA SOUTHERN
- IATA: CZ
- ICAO: CSN
- Size Of Fleet: 616
Website: www.csair.com
Phone: 00 86 400 869 5539
China Southern Airlines founded in 1988 is headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. Main hubs of the airline are Beijing and Guangzhou city. Secondary hubs are Chongqing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Urumqi. Focused cities are: Bangkok, Changchun, Chengdu, Changsha, Dalian, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Seoul, Jieyang, Kunming, Sanya, Shenyang, Wuhan, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, and Zuhai.
See Also >> China Southern Airlines Review
#4 – Hainan Airlines
(海南航空)
- Callsign: HAINAN
- IATA: HU
- ICAO: CHH
- Size Of Fleet: 240
Website: www.hainanairlines.com
Phone: +86-898-95339
Hainan airlines is the 4th largest airline in China when it comes to fleet size. Founded in 1993, it’s headquarters are in Haikou, Hainan, China. It has main hubs in Beijing, Haikou, and Xi’an. Focused cites for this Chinese airline are Changsha, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, and Urumqi. With 110 total destinations.
See Also >> Hainan Airlines Review
#5 – Shandong Airlines
(山东航空)
- Callsign: SHANDONG
- IATA: SC
- ICAO: CDG
- Size Of Fleet: 123
Website: www.sda.cn
Phone: +86-531-95369
Shandong airlines which was founded in 1994 is headquartered in in the Shandong Airlines Center in Jinan, Shandong, China. It operates out of it’s main hubs in Jinan and Qingdao. Focus cities for this airline are Beijing, Chongqing, Xiamen, and Yantai. This airline has 60 destinations which include other countries such as India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.
#6 – Shanghai Airlines
(上海航空)
- Callsign: SHANGHAI AIR
- IATA: FM
- ICAO: CSH
- Size Of Fleet: 104
Website: www.ceair.com
Phone: H.K.: 852-3665 8388
Shanghai airlines is an airline hardhearted at the Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai, China which merged together with China Eastern Airlines in 2010. Although they have merged together, both airlines continue to operate separately. The airline itself was founded in 1985 and it’s main hub is in Shanghai at Pudong and Hongqiao international airports. The fleet size is 104 aircraft carriers with 140 travel destinations. They operate both domestically and international flights.
See Also >> Shanghai Airlines Review
#7 – Shenzhen Airlines
(深圳航空)
- Callsign: SHENZHEN AIR
- IATA: FM
- ICAO: CSZ
- Size Of Fleet: 189
Website: www.shenzhenair.com
Phone: +86-755-88814023 | H.K. 817-95080
Shenzhen Airlines, founded in November 1992, is headquartered at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen, China. It’s main operating hub is in Shenzhen. It is also one of the two Chinese airlines which is in the global airline network along with Air China. Secondary hubs the airline operates out of are Guangzhou, Nanjing, Nanning, Shenyang, Wuxi, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, and Chengdu. Shenzhen airlines focuses mainly in 3 cities of Beijing, Quanzhou, and Yangzhou. Total domestic travel destinations are 74.
See Also >> Shenzhen Airlines Review
#8 – Sichuan Airlines
(四川航空)
- Callsign: SI CHUAN
- IATA: 3U
- ICAO: CSC
- Size Of Fleet: 151
Website: www.global.sichuanair.com
Phone: +86 28 8888 8888
Sichuan Airlines is headquartered in the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, China. Founded in September of 1986, this airline is listed as number 8 in our list of best Chinese Airlines. It operates out of it’s main hubs in Chengdu, Chongqing, and Kunming city. With it’s focused cities on Beijing, Harbin, Hangzhou, Sanya, Xi’an, and Nanning. Operating as both domestic and international flights, it has 94 total travel destinations and 151 aircraft carriers in it’s fleet.
See Also >> Sichuan Airlines Review
#9 – XiamenAir
(厦门航空)
- Callsign: XIAMEN AIR
- IATA: MF
- ICAO: CXA
- Size Of Fleet: 167
Website: www.xiamenair.com
Phone: +86-592-5739888
XiamenAir or also known as “Xiamen Airlines” is a Chinese domestic and International Airline located in Xiamen, Fujian, China. Founded in July of 1984. Main operating hubs for XiamenAir are Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Hangzhou city. Focus cities in China for the airline are Beijing, Changsha, Quangzhou, and Tianjin. China Southern Airlines owns 55% of XiamenAir. With 170 total carriers in it’s fleet and 70 traveling destinations which include routes to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
See Also >> Xiamen Airlines Review
See Also >> Book a China Tour
Major Airlines In Hong Kong
#1 – Cathay Dragon
(國泰港龍航空)
- Callsign: DRAGON
- IATA: KA
- ICAO: HDA
- Size Of Fleet: 48
Website: www.dragonair.com
Phone: +852 2747-3333
Cathay Dragon Airlines is major airline based in Hong Kong which was formally known as Dragonair. Founded in May of 1985, it’s main hub operates out of Hong Kong International Airport. The parent company of this Chinese airline is Cathay Pacific. Total number of carriers in it’s fleet is 48 with 51 destinations which include charter.
#2 – Cathay Pacific
(國泰航空公司)
- Callsign: CATHAY
- IATA: CX
- ICAO: CPA
- Size Of Fleet: 153
Website: www.cathaypacific.com
Phone: +852 2747-3333
Cathay Pacific is the biggest carrier in headquartered in Hong Kong. It’s main hub is also based out of the Hong Kong International Airport. The airline was founded in September of 1946, and it also owns and operates Cathay Dragon Airlines (DragonAir). This large domestic and International airline hosts a fleet size of 153 total carriers and makes destinations to 77 cities across the world.
#3 – Hong Kong Airlines
(香港航空)
- Callsign: BAUHINIA
- IATA: HX
- ICAO: CRK
- Size Of Fleet: 43
Website: www.hongkongairlines.com
Phone: +852-3916-3666
Hong Kong Airlines was founded in 2006 and bases it’s main headquarters in Tung Chung district with it’s main hub at the Hong Kong International Airport. This domestic and International airline focus travels over 30 across the world. Some cities are Auckland, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Bangkok, Bali, Taipei, Tokyo, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. Total number of carriers in it’s fleet is 43.
See Also >> Hong Kong Airlines Review
#4 – HK Express
(香港快運航空)
- Callsign: HONGKONG SHUTTLE
- IATA: UO
- ICAO: HKE
- Size Of Fleet: 24
Website: www.hkexpress.com
Phone: (852) 3902 0288
HK Express Airways is an airline based in Hong Kong which was founded in 2004. It’s a lower cost airline which has flight destinations to more than 26 cities across Asia. Some of the counties include China, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand. Total number of aircraft carriers in it’s fleet is 24.
Minor Airlines In China
#1 – 9 Air
Main Hub: Guangzhou
Size Of Fleet: 18
#2 – Air Guilin
Main Hub: Guilin
Size Of Fleet: 11
#3 – Air Changan
Main Hub: Xi’an
Size Of Fleet: 11
#4 – Beijing Capital Airlines
Main Hub: Beijing
Size Of Fleet: 86
#5 – Chengdu Airlines
Main Hub: Chengdu
Size Of Fleet: 43
#6 – China Express Airlines
Main Hub: Chongqing
Size Of Fleet: 47
#7 – China United Airlines
Main Hub: Beijing
Size Of Fleet: 49
#8 – Chongqing Airlines
Main Hub: Chongqing
Size Of Fleet: 29
#9 – Dalian Airlines
Main Hub: Dalian
Size Of Fleet: 10
#10 – Donghai Airlines
Main Hub: Shenzhen
Size Of Fleet: 22
#11 – Fuzhou Airlines
Main Hub: Fuzhou
Size Of Fleet: 17
#12 – Grand China Air
Main Hub: Beijing
Size Of Fleet: 3
#13 – Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines
Main Hub: Nanning
Size Of Fleet: 27
#14 – Hebei Airlines
Main Hub: Shijiazhuang
Size Of Fleet: 28
#15 – Joy Air
Main Hub: Xi’an
Size Of Fleet: 23
#17 – Kunming Airlines
Main Hub: Kunming
Size Of Fleet: 26
#18 – Loong Air
Main Hub: Hangzhou
Size Of Fleet: 42
#19 – Lucky Air
Main Hub: Kunming
Size Of Fleet: 55
#20 – Okay Airways
Main Hub: Tianjin, Xi’an, Changsha
Size Of Fleet: 30
#21 – Qingdao Airlines
Main Hub: Qingdao
Size Of Fleet: 16
#22 – Ruili Airlines
Main Hub: Kunming
Size Of Fleet: 18
#24 – Suparna Airlines
Main Hub: Shanghai
Size Of Fleet: 25
#25 – Tianjin Airlines
Main Hub: Tianjin
Size Of Fleet: 95
#26 – Tibet Airlines
Main Hub: Chengdu
Size Of Fleet: 29
#27 – Urumqi Air
Main Hub: Urumqi
Size Of Fleet: 18
#28 – West Air
Main Hub: Chongqing
Size Of Fleet: 34
Cargo Airlines In China
#1 – Air China Cargo
Main Hub: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou
Size Of Fleet: 15
#2 – China Cargo Airlines
Main Hub: Shanghai
Size Of Fleet: 9
#3 – China Postal Airlines
Main Hub: Nanjing
Size Of Fleet: 25
#4 – China Southern Cargo
Main Hub: Beijing, Guangzhou
Size Of Fleet: 223
#5 – Donghai Airlines Cargo
Main Hub: Shenzhen
Size Of Fleet: 22
#6 – SF Airlines
Main Hub: Shenzhen
Size Of Fleet: 50
#7 – Uni-Top Airlines
Main Hub: Wuhan
Size Of Fleet: 11
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