China United Airlines

Last updated
China United Airlines
中国联合航空
China United Airlines logo.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign
KNCUALIANHANG
Founded25 December 1986;38 years ago (1986-12-25)
Operating bases
Fleet size57
Destinations87 [1]
Parent company China Eastern Airlines
Headquarters Beijing Daxing International Airport, Daxing, Beijing
Website www.flycua.com

China United Airlines (CUA) is a low-cost airline [2] and a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. It is headquartered at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing.

Contents

In 2019, the painted aircraft of China United Airlines won Top 1 at the World Classic Aircraft Award.

History

China United Airlines was established in 1986 as an arm of the civil transport division of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. In November 2002, all scheduled services were ceased, followed by a full suspension of flight operations in 2003 due to a Chinese governmental regulation prohibiting the Army from being directly involved in commercial activities. On June 4, 2005, the Civil Aviation Administration of China approved the relaunch of the airline, now with Shanghai Airlines holding 80 percent of the stake, as well as China Aviation Supplies Holding Company as a secondary shareholder. Even though China United Airlines has since then lost its military status, it is uniquely still permitted to use military air bases as destinations, in contrast to other Chinese airlines and other airlines in general.

In 2000, China United Airlines spent US$120 million to buy a Boeing 767-300ER, which was previously ordered by Delta Air Lines, as Jiang Zemin's private jet. Several days before its first flight, covert listening devices were found installed in the toilet, corridor, and even in Jiang's headboard. The devices were believed to be controlled and monitored by satellite. The Central Intelligence Agency, the United States Embassy in China, and China United Airlines refused to comment on this incident. [3] [4] The specific aircraft was sold to Air China. It operate for over a decade in Air China's fleet and was sold to the Sunday Airlines of Kazakhstan in 2014 after its retirement.

China United Airlines was acquired by China Eastern Airlines in October 2010. [5]

With the opening of the Beijing Daxing International Airport on 26 September 2019, China United Airlines began service at the new airport as its main hub and ceased service from Beijing Nanyuan Airport, which was its main operating base for 35 years. [6] [7]

Corporate

The headquarters is on the grounds of Beijing Daxing International Airport in Daxing, Beijing. [8] Previously the headquarters were in Fengtai. [9] [10] The customer service center is in Xinhua, Shijiazhuang, Hebei. [11]

Destinations

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
China (Anhui) Fuyang Fuyang Airport
Hefei Hefei Xinqiao International Airport
China (Beijing)Beijing Beijing Daxing International Airport Hub
China (Fujian) Fuzhou Fuzhou Changle International Airport
Longyan Longyan Guanzhishan Airport
China (Guangdong) Foshan Foshan Shadi Airport
Guangzhou Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Jieyang Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport
Shenzhen Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport
Zhanjiang Zhanjiang Wuchuan Airport
China (Hainan) Sanya Sanya Phoenix International Airport
China (Henan) Nanyang Nanyang Jiangying Airport
China (Hunan) Changsha Changsha Huanghua International Airport
China (Inner Mongolia) Baotou Baotou Airport
Hailar Hailar Dongshan Airport
Hohhot Hohhot Baita International Airport
Ordos Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport
China (Jiangsu) Lianyungang Lianyungang Baitabu Airport
Nanjing Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport
China (Jiangxi) Ganzhou Ganzhou Airport
China (Shaanxi) Yulin Yulin Airport
China (Shandong) Linyi Linyi Qiyang International Airport
China (Shanghai)Shanghai Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
China (Sichuan) Chengdu Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
China (Xinjiang) Ürümqi Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport
China (Zhejiang) Hangzhou Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Quzhou Quzhou Airport
Japan Fukuoka Fukuoka Airport
Shizuoka Shizuoka Airport
Russia Vladivostok Vladivostok International Airport [12]
South Korea Cheongju Cheongju International Airport [13]
Jeju Jeju International Airport [13]
Muan Muan International Airport [13]
Seoul Incheon International Airport [13]

Fleet

A China United Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport B-5353 - China United Airlines - Boeing 737-8Q8(WL) - CAN (14876211415).jpg
A China United Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

As of December 2023, China United Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet composed of the following aircraft: [14]

China United Airlines fleet
AircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengersNotes
Boeing 737-700 5144
Boeing 737-800 52186
Total57

The airline previously operated the following aircraft:

China United Airlines retired fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A319-100 320122015Transferred to People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Hawker Siddeley Trident 1019861993
Tupolev Tu-154M 1119862011Transferred to People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Special liveries

China United Airlines has a total of 7 special livery aircraft in service, all of which are named after cities in China:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beijing Capital International Airport</span> Airport serving Beijing, China

Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest of the two international airports serving Beijing, the capital of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport</span> Secondary airport serving Shanghai, China

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is one of two international airports of Shanghai, the largest city by population in China, and a significant airline hub of the country. Hongqiao Airport mainly serves domestic and regional flights, although the airport also serves selected international flights. The airport is located near the town of Hongqiao in the outskirts of Changning and Minhang districts, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of downtown, and is closer to the city center than the area's primary international airport, Shanghai–Pudong.

China Eastern Airlines is a major airline in China, headquartered in Changning, Shanghai. It is one of the three major airlines in the country, along with Air China and China Southern Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XiamenAir</span> Airline of China; based in Xiamen, Fujian

Xiamen Airlines, is an airline based in Xiamen, Fujian, China. XiamenAir has its northern headquarters in Beijing and eight branches in Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Hunan, Beijing, Quanzhou, Chongqing and Shanghai, and two subsidiaries in Hebei Airlines and Jiangxi Airlines. Founded on July 25, 1984, XiamenAir is the first airline in China to operate independently as an enterprise. It was established as a joint venture between the Shanghai Administration of Civil Aviation Administration of China, Xiamen Special Economic Zone Construction Development Company and Fujian Investment Enterprise Company. The shareholders are China Southern Airlines Corporation (55%), Xiamen C&D Group (34%) and Fujian Investment and Development Group (11%). The current chairman of XiamenAir is Zhao Dong and the general manager is Wang Zhixue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okay Airways</span> Chinese airline

Okay Airways is an airline headquartered in Daxing District, Beijing, People's Republic of China. It operates passenger flight services and dedicated cargo services. Its main hubs are Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, with a secondary hub at Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

China Eastern Yunnan Airlines, is an airline based in Kunming, Yunnan, China. It is the subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, and was formerly known as China Yunnan Airlines, whose headquarters were on the property of Wujiaba Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beijing Nanyuan Airport</span> Former airport of Beijing, China (1910–2019)

Beijing Nanyuan Airport was a People's Liberation Army Air Force Base and a secondary commercial airport of Beijing, the capital of China. Located in Fengtai District, 3 km (1.9 mi) south of the 4th Ring Road and 13 km (8.1 mi) from Tiananmen Square, Nanyuan Airport was first opened in 1910, making it the oldest airport in China. It was the main operating base for China United Airlines, which was also the airport's sole airline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yinchuan Hedong International Airport</span> Airport in Lingwu, Ningxia

Yinchuan Hedong International Airport is the primary airport serving Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. It is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of downtown Yinchuan in the town of Linghe of Lingwu City. A relatively small airport compared to many airports in China, it nevertheless is the autonomous region's main aviation gateway. Its name "Hedong" literally means "East of the River" and derives from the airport's location east of the Yellow River. It is connected to over 20 cities by either direct flights, or transferring in Xi'an and Beijing. The terminal building covers a total area of 15,000 square metres (160,000 sq ft). The airport handled 10,575,393 passengers in 2019, making it the 38th busiest airport in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donghai Airlines</span> Chinese airline

Donghai Airlines is an airline headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, with its base at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport.

Beijing Capital Airlines, commonly known as Capital Airlines, is a Chinese low-cost airline based at Beijing Daxing International Airport. It is a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beijing Daxing International Airport</span> Airport in China

Beijing Daxing International Airport is one of two international airports serving Beijing, the capital of China.

Bu'erjin Kanasi Airport is an airport that serves Burqin County and the nearby tourist destination Kanas Lake in Xinjiang, China. It is located 50 kilometers south of the lake in Burqin County. The airport was constructed in 2006 and opened on 15 August 2007. Until 2019, the airport was only open for flights in the summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caoqiao station</span> Beijing Subway station

Caoqiao station is a station on Line 10, Line 19 and Daxing Airport Express of the Beijing Subway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qionghai Bo'ao International Airport</span> Airport in Zhongyuan, Qionghai

Qionghai Bo'ao International Airport is an airport serving the city of Qionghai, Hainan, China. The airport received the approval for establishment from the national government in January 2013, and was opened in March 2016 after three years of construction. It was approved to be an international airport and was thus renamed in April 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SF Airlines</span> Cargo airline of China

SF Airlines is a Chinese cargo airline owned by SF Express (Group) Co. The company is headquartered in the No.1 Freight Depot of the International Shipping Center of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loong Air</span> Chinese airline

Zhejiang Changlong Airlines Co. Ltd, branded as Loong Air (长龙航空) and previously as CDI Cargo (长龙国际货运航空公司), is a Chinese airline based in Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daxing Airport Express</span> Airport rail link of Daxing Airport, part of Beijing Subway system

Daxing Airport Express of the Beijing Subway is an airport rail link from Caoqiao to the Beijing Daxing International Airport. It is colored blue on subway maps. The line opened on September 26, 2019.

Huairou–Daxing intercity railway, formerly known as Capital Airport–Daxing Airport intercity railway connecting line, is a higher-speed railway line currently under construction. The speed will be 200 km/h. It will connect the Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport when the full line is completed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daxing Jichang (Daxing Airport) station</span> Station on Beijing Subway & China Railway

Daxing Jichang station is a station on the Daxing Airport Express of the Beijing Subway, and the Beijing–Xiong'an intercity railway of China Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air China Inner Mongolia</span> Chinese airline

Air China Inner Mongolia Co., Ltd, branded as Air China Inner Mongolia, is a regional airline in Inner Mongolia, China, with its corporate base in Hohhot Baita International Airport. It is a state-owned airline owned by Air China (80%) and Inner-Mongolia State-owned Capital Management Co., Ltd (20%). As of 2019, Air China Inner Mongolia has 19 destinations, mostly in China. It has an all Boeing 737 fleet of 8 that consists of Boeing 737-700 and -800 aircraft. The airline was founded in 2012 by Air China, serving as a regional branch that increases Air China's presence in Inner-Mongolia. The airline's current chairman in Wang Yingnian serving as Chief Pilot of Air China since 2014.

References

  1. "China United Airlines on ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. "China Eastern Airlines turns Beijing unit into budget carrier". Yahoo News Singapore. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  3. BBC:江泽民专机险遭窃听. BBC Chinese (in Simplified Chinese). 19 January 2002.
  4. China finds spy bugs in Jiang's Boeing jet by Damien McElroy and David Wastell; The Daily Telegraph
  5. 关于联航 [About United Airlines] (in Chinese). China United Airlines. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  6. 中国联合航空将于2019年9月26日整体搬迁至北京大兴国际机场运行。原北京南苑机场始发及到达的所有航班均改至北京大兴国际机场。已购买2019年9月26日(含)以后客票的旅客,将在北京大兴国际机场出发或到达。请您仔细查看出行日期,以免影响您的行程。. China United Airlines (in Chinese (China)).
  7. 再见百年南苑,南苑机场正式结束民航运营 (in Chinese (China)). 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  8. "联系我们". China United Airlines. Retrieved 2022-03-29. 办公地址:北京市大兴区大兴国际机场东航基地A2
  9. 联系我们. China United Airlines. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012. 北京市丰台区警备东路6号西区一号院
  10. "World Airline Directory." Flight International . 1–7 April 1998. 57. "No 14 Xisanhuan Nanlu, Beijing, 100073, China" (making it 西三环南路14号)
  11. "客户服务热线". China United Airlines. Retrieved 2022-03-29. 通信地址 河北省石家庄市新华区友谊北大街369号 中联航客户服务中心(收)邮编:050061
  12. Liu, Jim (13 June 2024). "China United Begins Beijing – Vladivostok Service From June 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "CHINA UNITED ADDS INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FROM ORDOS IN LATE-2Q24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  14. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 11.
  15. 首架国画涂装“安顺黄果树号”航班首航. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese (China)). 2015-10-01. Archived from the original on 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  16. 中联航包头号亮相系全球首架唐艺屏风画涂装 (in Chinese (China)). NetEase Aviation. 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  17. 中国联航“日照号”亮相 被赞彩绘飞机“扛把子”. Civil Aviation Resource Net of China (in Chinese (China)). 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  18. 中联航“兴义号”城市主题彩绘机揭开面纱. Civil Aviation Resource Net of China (in Chinese (China)). 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  19. 东航云南机务喷涂中联航“庆阳号”获2019全球经典彩绘飞机十强榜魁. CAAC News (in Chinese (China)). 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  20. 腾云驾雾!刚刚,全球首架西游主题彩绘客机“连云港号”首航!. Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation (in Chinese (China)). 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2019-10-11.