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Air China

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Air China
中国国际航空公司
Zhōngguó Guójì Hángkōng Gōngsī
File:Air China Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
CA CCA AIR CHINA
Founded1988
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programPhoenix Miles
AllianceStar Alliance
Subsidiaries
Fleet size293 (+250 orders)
Destinations185
Parent companyChina National Aviation Corporation
HeadquartersBeijing Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone
Shunyi District, Beijing, People's Republic of China
Key peopleWang Changshun, Chairman
Cai Jianjiang, President
Websiteairchina.com

Air China Limited (SEHK: 753, LSE: AIRC, SSE: 601111) (simplified Chinese: 中国国际航空公司; traditional Chinese: 中國國際航空公司; pinyin: Zhōngguó Guójì Hángkōng Gōngsī; lit. 'China International Airlines Company', abbreviated 国航) is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China, with its headquarters in Shunyi District, Beijing.

Air China's flight operations are based out of Beijing Capital International Airport and is the world's 10th largest airline by fleet size. The airline ranked behind its main competitors China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines in terms of total passengers carried.[1]

The enterprise logo of Air China consists of an artistic phoenix pattern, the name of the airline written in calligraphy by former national leader Deng Xiaoping, and “AIR CHINA” in English. The phoenix logo is also the artistic transfiguration of the word “VIP”. Air China is a member of the Star Alliance.

In 2010, Air China carried 60 million domestic and international passengers with an average load factor of 80%. The airline reported a net profit of 12 billion yuan (USD $1.83 billion) in 2010.[2]

History and development

Air China was established on 1 July 1988 as a result of the Chinese government's late 1987 decision to split the operating divisions of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) into six separate airlines: Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, China Northern, China Southwest, and China Northwest.[3] Air China was given chief responsibility for intercontinental flights and took over the CAAC's long haul aircraft (Boeing 747s, 767s, and 707s) and routes.

In January 2001, the former CAAC's ten airlines announced they had agreed on a merger plan,[4] according to which Air China was to acquire China Southwest Airlines. Before the acquisition, Air China was the country's fourth largest domestic airline. The merger created a group with assets of 56 billion yuan (USD $8.63 billion), and a fleet of 118 aircraft.[5] In October 2002, Air China consolidated with the China National Aviation Corporation and China Southwest Airlines.[6]

On 15 December 2004, Air China was successfully listed on the Hong Kong and London Stock Exchanges. The airline also listed its shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 18 August 2006.

In 2006, Air China signed an agreement to join the Star Alliance. It became a member of the alliance on 12 December 2007 alongside Shanghai Airlines.

In July 2009, Air China acquired $19.3 million of shares from its troubled subsidiary Air Macau, lifting its stake in the carrier from 51% to 80.9%.[7] One month later, Air China spent HK$6.3 billion (USD $813 million) to raise its stake in Cathay Pacific from 17.5 percent to 29.99 percent, expanding its presence in Hong Kong.[8]

In April 2010, Air China completed the increase of shareholdings in Shenzhen Airlines and became the controlling shareholder of Shenzhen Airlines, allowing Air China to further enhance its position in Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai as well as achieve a more balanced domestic network.[9]

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.[10]

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 connected Tianjin via shuttle bus with domestic flights passing through Beijing.[11]

On 12 November 2011, Air China announced that it would be offering Wi-Fi internet service on board its aircraft from 15 November 2011, making it the first Chinese carrier to offer this service.[12]

In 2012 Air China launched a Facebook campaign in collaboration with Asian restaurants in Sweden, where participants could check in using their smartphones and win a flight to Beijing.[13]

On January 15, 2013, Air China announced that it will offer nonstop flights from Beijing, China to Houston using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft beginning July 11, 2013 pending approval from the US Department of Transportation.[14]

Corporate affairs

Air China HQ Building

The entity Air China Limited was registered on September 30, 2004, and its shares began trading in Hong Kong and London on December 15, 2004. Originally the airline corporate entity was Air China International, which was founded in 1988. In 2002 Air China International incorporated China Southwest Airlines and the air transportation services of the China National Aviation Company, becoming a new entity.[15]

The Air China HQ Building (S: 国航总部大楼, T: 國航總部大樓, P: Guó Háng Zǒngbù Dàlóu), the corporate headquarters, is located in Zone A of the Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone (S: 天竺空港工业区, T: 天竺空港工業區, P: Tiānzhú Kōng Gǎng Gōngyèqū) in Shunyi District, Beijing.[15][16][17] The company registered office is on the ninth floor of the Blue Sky Mansion (S: 蓝天大厦, T: 藍天大廈, P: Lántiān Dàshà), also in Zone A of the Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone.[18]

Destinations

Main article: Air China destinations
  Mainland China
  Air China destinations
  Former Destinations

Air China's route network extends throughout Asia to the Middle East, Western Europe, and North America from its main hub at Beijing Capital International Airport. It also currently reaches a significant number of Asian, Australian and European destinations from Shanghai. Some international routes operate from Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dubai, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanning and Xiamen.

On 10 December 2006, Air China began serving its first South American destination, São Paulo (via Madrid). This was the airline's longest direct flight. The service was initiated with Boeing 767-300 aircraft, but due to increased demand, the service has been upgraded to the Airbus A330-200.

Air China introduced its new Airbus A330-300 aircraft long-haul operations beginning with services to Düsseldorf, Germany in summer 2011. These aircraft provided the same two-class cabin standard as the Airbus 330-200 except that the economy cabin had no seat-back entertainment system installed (with the exception of the first two economy rows which also had increased legroom). Düsseldorf is now the third German destination on the Air China network. The airline launched a new Beijing-Milan service on 15 June 2011, complementing the airline's existing Shanghai Pudong-Milan service. Deliveries of the carrier's 19 new Boeing 777-300ERs commenced in mid-2011, and Air China stated that the aircraft will form the "backbone of its future longhaul operations". The new Boeing 777-300ER will ultimately replace Boeing 747–400 on routes to U.S. destinations such as Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, but is expected to first enter service on flights to Paris from March 2012. The Boeing 777-300ER will replace all 747 service once sufficient numbers enter the fleet.[19] Air China expanded its operations in India with a Beijing-Mumbai route begun in September 2011, while the existing Delhi route was upgraded to the A330.[20] The airline also launched service to Mumbai from Chengdu on 2 May 2012.[21] The airline announced that it plans to use the Boeing 777-300ER on one of its two daily Beijing-Los Angeles flights beginning 1 February 2012.[22] Beginning in late-2012 to early 2013, the airline will replace the Boeing 747-400s currently servicing the New York and San Francisco routes with the Boeing 777-300ER.[23]

Codeshare agreements

Air China has codeshare agreements with the following airlines.[24]

Fleet

Air China Boeing 747-4J6
Air China Boeing 777-39LER
Air China Boeing 777-29L
Air China Airbus Airbus A340-313X
Air China Airbus A330-243
Air China Airbus A321-214
Air China Boeing 737-89L

As of February 7th, 2013, the Air China fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 6.6 years:[29][30][31]

Air China Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
F C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 30 0 0 8 120 128
Airbus A320-200 28 3 8 150 158
Airbus A321-200 38 20 12 173 185
Airbus A330-200 25 1 30 207 237 8 ordered in November 2010
To replace 757-200 and A340-300.
5 12 271 283
Airbus A330-300 10 13 30 271 301 3 leased from AerCap
20 additional firm orders of which first delivered January 2011
To replace 777-200.
Airbus A340-300 6 0 8 28 219 255 To be phased out
To be replaced by A330-200
Airbus A350-900 0 10 TBA 10 ordered in November 2010
Boeing 737-300 19 0 0 8 120 128
Boeing 737-700 20 1
Boeing 737-800 87 133 159 167
Boeing 747-400 4 0 10 42 292 344 To be phased out
To be replaced by 747-8I and 777-300ER
Boeing 747-400M 5 0 24 246 280 To be phased out
To be replaced by 747-8I and 777-300ER
Boeing 747-8I 0 5 TBA Ordered on 7 March 2011,[32] order confirmed on September 7, 2012, to begin delivery in either 2014 or 2015
Boeing 757-200 8 0 0 8 192 200 To be phased out
To be replaced by A330-200
Boeing 777-200 5 0 5 17 300 322 To be replaced by A330-300
5 0 5 30 280 315 To be replaced by A330-300
Boeing 777-300ER 11 9 8 42 263 313 To replace 747-400/400M
Boeing 787-9 0 15 TBA Deliveries from late 2015 (order was switched from −8 to −9 August 2010)[33]
COMAC C919 0 20 TBA
Total 272 250

Retired

Air China Retired Fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired
Bae 146 6 1987 2004
Boeing 707-3J6C 5 1988 1993
Boeing 737-2K4 3 1988 1995
Boeing 737-59Q 1 2003 2008
Boeing 737-65Q 6 2003 2009
Boeing 747-2J6BM 6 1988 2000
Boeing 747SP-J6/27 5 1988 2000
Boeing 767-2J6ER 6 1988 2009
Boeing 767-3J6 4 1993 2012
Boeing 767-332ER/331ER/3Q8ER/33AER 5 2003 2010/2012

Phoenix Miles

Air China lounge (next to the bamboo) at Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport, the airline's main hub

Phoenix Miles (Chinese: 国航知音; pinyin: guó háng zhī yīn, literally "Best friends of Air China"), is the frequent flyer program of Air China. This is the first frequent flyer program launched in China. It was designed to reward frequent flyers traveling internationally and domestically with Air China and its partner airlines.[34]

Members earn mileages for travel on Air China, its affiliated partner airlines and partner airlines. The companion card may be upgraded to VIP status. There are special redemption rates for VIP members – Gold card members and Platinum card Members.

  • Silver card members (Star Alliance Silver): earn 25% mileage bonus on eligible flights.
  • Gold card members (Star Alliance Gold): earn 25% mileage bonus on eligible flights.
  • Platinum card members (Star Alliance Gold): earn 50% mileage bonus on eligible flights.

Cargo

Main article: Air China Cargo

Incidents and accidents

See also

References

  1. ^ "Air China: Passenger Throughput Up 16% In 2010[dead link]", China Hospitality News. January 17, 2011, retrieved on January 17, 2011.
  2. ^ Air China 2010 net profit rises to $1.83 billion | ATWOnline
  3. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-03-27. p. 55.
  4. ^ Ng, Eric, "Air China Set to Announce Lead Bank for Listing," South China Morning Post, Bus. Sec., July 16, 2001, p. 4.
  5. ^ Holland, Tom, "China Break-In," Far Eastern Economic Review, October 25, 2001, p. 41.
  6. ^ "Air China plans to buy 15 new planes". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. October 30, 2002. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  7. ^ Air China increases stake in Air Macau to almost 81%, Air Transport Intelligence news, 12.07.2010
  8. ^ Air China to Raise Cathay Pacific Stake to 29.99% (Update2), By Bloomberg News, August 17, 2009
  9. ^ Air China acquires majority stake in Shenzhen Airlines, Air Transport Intelligence news, 22/03/10
  10. ^ Air China Received Top Tourism Award http://www.antaranews.com/en/print/1291378610
  11. ^ Antara News :
  12. ^ http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-105136.html
  13. ^ http://rodolfo.se/case/check-in-with-air-china/
  14. ^ http://www.click2houston.com/news/Air-China-to-offer-non-stop-flights-to-Beijing/-/1735978/18139614/-/format/rsss_2.0/-/stfrrw/-/index.html
  15. ^ a b "Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2010." (Archive) Air China. p. 7. Retrieved on October 12, 2012. "Headquarter location No. 30, Tianzhu Road, Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone, Beijing, China"
  16. ^ "Membership." (Archive) IATA. Retrieved on October 12, 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"
  17. ^ "联系我们." (Archive) (Archive) Air China. Retrieved on October 12, 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"
  18. ^ "Interim Report 2012." (Archive) Air China. Retrieved on October 12, 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."
  19. ^ Air China Expands With Second Daily Nonstop Flight From Los Angeles to Beijing
  20. ^ Business Standard (2011-07-01). "Air China expands India operations". Business-standard.com. Retrieved 2011-10-17. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  21. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/air-china-open-shanghai-chengdu-074400259.html
  22. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/air-china-b777-300er-set-080000292.html
  23. ^ http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines-components/news/air-china-begins-replacing-747s-777s-us-routes-0119
  24. ^ Partnerships[dead link]. Airchina.com.cn. Retrieved on 2010-12-13.
  25. ^ "Ethiopian, Air China move forward on codeshare". ATW Online. 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  26. ^ Air China, EVA Airways to join hands on code sharing services, ChinaKnowledge, Oct. 29, 2010
  27. ^ http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9238561.htm
  28. ^ Air China International. Br.fly-airchina.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-13.
  29. ^ Air China fleet list at planespotters.net
  30. ^ Air China International. Airchina.de. Retrieved on 2010-12-13.
  31. ^ Air China A330-300. SeatPlans.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-13.
  32. ^ "Boeing, Air China Sign Agreement for 747-8 Intercontinentals". Yahoo! Finance. 7 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  33. ^ "Air China switches 15 787-8s order to 787-9s". Flightglobal.com. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Phoenix Miles Main Page (English)" – about us
  35. ^ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20020415-0
  36. ^ http://tvnz.co.nz/content/94189/425822/article.html
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