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Great Wall Airlines

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Great Wall Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
IJ GWL GREAT WALL
Founded2006
Fleet size3
Destinations12
Parent companyChina Great Wall Industry Corporation
HeadquartersShanghai, People's Republic of China
Websitehttp://www.gwairlines.com/

Great Wall Airlines Company Limited is a cargo airline based in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. It operates cargo services to Europe and Asia. Its main base is Beijing Capital International Airport, with a hub at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.[1]

A Great Wall Airlines Boeing 747-400F above Amsterdam

History

The airline launched its first flight from Shanghai to Amsterdam on 1 June 2006 with an initial frequency of six flights per week, becoming the first local-foreign partnership airline to take flight in China[2]. Flights to Singapore, Chennai and Mumbai were planned to be launched next.[3]

It was co-owned by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (51%), Singapore Airlines Cargo (25%), and Dahlia Investments (24%), a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings based in Singapore.[4]

The airline suspended operations on 18 August 2006 after its parent company, China Great Wall Industry, had sanctions imposed on it by the United States Department of the Treasury for allegedly supplying missile technology to Iran[1]. All aircraft were returned to Singapore Airlines Cargo. On 13 December 2006, it was announced that sanctions against Great Wall Airlines had been lifted, and that the airline would resume service in February 2007 . The airline has resumed scheduled services to Amsterdam (six times weekly), Incheon (six times weekly) and Mumbai/Chennai (three times weekly). As of April 30, 2007 Great Wall Airlines have also launched scheduled service to Manchester via Amsterdam (two times weekly). [citation needed]

Destinations

Great Wall Airlines operates flights to 12 destinations in 6 countries.[5]

Europe

Far East

India

Middle East & Pakistan

USA

Fleet

As of May 2008 the Great Wall Airlines fleet includes: [7]

Great Wall Airlines fleet
Aircraft In fleet Order Option Engine Notes
Boeing 747-412F 2 0 0 Pratt & Whitney PW4056
Boeing 747-412BCF 1 0 0 Pratt & Whitney PW4056

The airline operates two Boeing 747-400 freighters, on lease from Singapore Airlines Cargo. The aircraft were returned to Singapore Airlines Cargo and operated in an SIA Cargo/Great Wall hybrid livery when operations were suspended. Upon resumption of flight operations, the aircraft returned to Shanghai in full Great Wall Airlines livery. [citation needed] As of April 2007 a third 747-400 was introduced[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 88.
  2. ^ Cargo News Asia
  3. ^ Singapore Airlines Cargo news 23 June 2006
  4. ^ Singapore Airlines Cargo news 19 May 2005
  5. ^ Great Wall Airlines Summer 2008 Flight Schedule PDF format
  6. ^ Great Wall Airlines USA Expansion
  7. ^ GWA Fleet
  8. ^ Aerotransport.org
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