CA*/CZ™/FM/HU/MF/MU™/ZH | Mainland China-Based Carriers

[deasine]

This thread will be the discussion thread for all carriers based in China.

The discussion from the following threads, which have already been closed and archived, should now be going into this one.

• #HU | Hainan Airlines/Grand China Air
• CN/HK/TW | Cross Strait Aviation News
• China Aviation News
• CN | China - Aviation
• #CZ | China Southern Airlines
• MISC | Chinese Airliners Photos

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Air China receives its first Boeing 777-300ER



BEIJING -- Air China, the country's biggest international carrier, received its first Boeing 777-300ER Thursday afternoon, which is also the first such aircraft for the Chinese mainland.

Air China will introduce 19 such aircrafts in the future, the company's vice president He Li said at the reception ceremony in Beijing.
The first aircraft will fly on routes between Beijing and Guangzhou, and Shanghai and Shenzhen, he said.

The second will be used on routes between Beijing and Frankfurt, and London and Paris, and will replace Boeing 747-400 planes currently used between China and North America, he said, without saying when the company will receive the second Boeing 777-300ER.

Air China will increase the proportion of wide-bodied aircrafts in its flight team in the next five years, he added.

(China Daily 2011)

[Equario]

http://spotters.net.ua/file/?id=51656&size=large

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China’s HNA Group to Invest in Turkish Cargo Airline ACT
Bloomberg
Jul 22, 2011 6:20 PM GMT+0800

HNA Group Co., controlled by China’s Hainan provincial government, said it will invest in a Turkish cargo airline as it seeks to expand in Europe.

The investment in ACT Airlines Inc. will help the Istanbul- based carrier more than double its fleet to 10 freighters within two years, HNA said in an e-mailed statement today, without disclosing financial details.

The Chinese company plans to invest as much as $250 million in Turkey, Xinhua News Agency reported today without citing anyone. HNA Group spokesman Tong Fu didn’t answer four calls to his mobile phone seeking comment. Calls made to ACT Airline’s public relations office in Instanbul weren’t answered.

HNA, which runs airlines, airports, hotels and department stores, said July 18 that it may bid for Essen, Germany-based Hochtief AG’s airport-operating unit. Acquisition of the business will give the buyer control of main airports serving Hamburg, Sydney, Budapest and Athens.

[deasine]

Looks like CA is going to have decent looking premium cabins finally.

Air China puts first B777-300ER into service





Air China took delivery of its first wide-body Boeing B777-300ER last week, featuring the carrier’s new business class cabin.

The aircraft was first deployed on the Beijing-Guangzhou route and will eventually be followed by the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Shenzhen sectors. When the carrier receives its second B777-300ER later this year, it will be put on the Beijing-Frankfurt route from September 1, 2011, then be used for other long-haul destinations including London, Paris and North American destinations.

As reported earlier, Air China is conducting a cabin revitalisation programme (see story here). This aircraft features the carrier’s new premium products, including 180-degree flat bed seats in business and first class as well as an upgraded inflight entertainment system (IFE).

This B777-300ER is the first out of 19 to arrive, with three more to be added to the carrier's fleet by year-end. Nex year, another six will be delivered and the remaining nine over the coming years. The introduction of this aircraft and its future fleet of B747-800 Intercontinental solidifies the carrier’s position in the international aviation market.

For more information, visit www.airchina.com

(Business Traveller 2011)

[lianli]

China launches Tibet Airlines



Posted by- Neelam Mathews
July 27, 2011

Tibet Airlines, the only carrier based in Lhasa, has started operations with a direct flight connecting Beijing and Lhasa.

State-owned Tibet Investment Co. holds 51 percent of the carrier established in May 2010 while two companies – Tibet Sanli Investment Company and Tibet Ruiyi Investment Company, own 39 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Presently TAC has one Airbus A319 with plans to add 20 by 2015. The systems have been modified to supply oxygen for 55 minutes, compared with the usual time of 22 minutes for aircraft that don't serve the plateau region, Tao Wenge, spokesmanof Airbus China Ltd, said.

TAC plans to offer four services a day connecting Lhasa, Ngari and Chengdu, in Sichuan province. Each flight will take about two hours.

Tibet Airlines plans to start flights to Europe by 2015 or 2016.

aerospace diary


by Juergen Lehle/albspotter.eu

[hkskyline]

Air China taps rebound in traffic
Shanghai Daily
Jul 27, 2011

WITH more passengers expected to consider air travel following last week's tragic bullet train accident and a string of mishaps in China's high-speed trains, Air China began to use the first Boeing 777-300ER China has bought on the Shanghai-Beijing service, the most profitable domestic route.

Beijing-based Air China, the country's flagship international carrier, said it will offer more comfortable services on the B777 jet, which it hopes will help the airline lure business passengers from their domestic peers and rail rivals.

The airline carried nearly 300 passengers on its B777 jet from Beijing to Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport yesterday morning.

"We have seen a rebound in load factor on Beijing-Shanghai route since the inauguration of high-speed railway between the two cities,'' said Xu Junqing, senior marketing manager of Air China.

Xu said with rail ticket prices expected to rise further more passengers may choose to fly as a safer option after the bullet train accident last Saturday in Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province.

"Safety is the first concern when passengers choose the mode of travel," said Zhang Hongbo, an analyst at Citic Securities Co. "The recent railway accidents will lead to more rail passengers switching to other forms of transport and that in turn will benefit airlines."

Yesterday, China Eastern Airlines gained by the daily cap of 10 percent in Shanghai trading to 5.60 yuan and China Southern Airlines rose 9.2 percent to 8.68 yuan. Air China gained 7 percent to 10.37 yuan.

[hkskyline]

Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/539/5394482.html

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Two ROK airlines to fly between Huangshan and Seoul
Updated: 2011-07-26
Xinhua

HEFEI: Two Republic of Korea (ROK) airlines will offer direct flight services between Seoul and the eastern Chinese city of Huangshan later this week, Huangshan airport said Monday.

Korean Air Lines Co. will fly on Thursdays and Sundays starting July 28 and also on Wednesdays and Saturdays as of August 29, the airport said in a statement.

Asiana Airlines Inc. will fly on Wednesdays and Saturdays as of July 30 and additionally on Tuesdays as of August 29, it said.

The flights will be the first scheduled international ones to the tourist resort Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, in Anhui province.

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Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/539/5399402.html

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Chinese airlines hike fuel surcharge to record high
Updated: 2011-08-02 15:26
China Daily

A number of Chinese airlines have raised the fuel surcharge on domestic flights to an historic high despite a drop in international oil prices, China Business News (CBN) reported Tuesday.

Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and a number of other carriers will increase the extra charge for domestic routes longer than 800 kilometers from 140 yuan ($20.82) to 150 yuan per passenger from Aug 1, reports 163.com, citing Chinese travel website ctrip.com.

The fuel charge for routes shorter than 800 kilometers will remain at 80 yuan per passenger.

The move comes after airlines were informed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China that from Aug 1, factory price of domestic oil is set at 7,725 yuan per ton and the purchase cost for domestic airliners to buy oil from China National Aviation Fuel for their domestic flights was adjusted to 7,785 yuan per ton, the report said.

This is the first-released domestic aviation fuel price after the National Development and Reform Commission published the new pricing mechanism last month.

Although oil prices in the international crude oil market decreased, domestic oil prices rose against trend. An anonymous analyst told the CBN that the CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value of imports for aviation fuel was taking Singaporean oil price as a standard, which was rising.

A senior official with an airline company told CBN that raising fuel surcharge could not fully cover the rise in fuel cost. The profit margin of airline companies would finally be decided by the market demand and ticket prices.

Wu Yunying, an analyst with Changjiang Securities pointed out that as high-speed railways are not taking as many as passengers as expected and the peak season for aviation is approaching, airliners are likely to increase both the amount of passengers and ticket prices.

[deasine]

Melbourne Airport welcomes increased China Southern services

Melbourne Airport has welcomed China Southern’s announcement to double its Melbourne services by introducing twice-daily flights between Guangzhou and Melbourne from October 2011.

Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said China Southern’s additional services would further increase the number of visitors from China to Melbourne and Victoria, as well provide more opportunities for Australians travelling to China.

“China is our number one long haul market and as Victoria’s international aviation gateway, we are pleased to be able to support the strengthening of Victoria’s tourism, education and business relationship with China,” Mr Woodruff said.

There were 386,118 passengers with Chinese passports who travelled through Melbourne Airport in 2010/11, which was a 26.2 per cent increase on the previous year.

The introduction of ‘double daily’ services comes just one year after China Southern introduced daily flights from three flights per week, underscoring the significant growth in the China market. The move also extends China Southern’s international network through their SkyTeam alliance.

“The new double daily service means that Victorians now have improved connections to the biggest domestic network in China as well as improved connections to favourite global destinations.”

Mr Woodruff said the decision by China Southern to increase flights to Melbourne reaffirmed the value of Melbourne Airport’s strategy to make Melbourne a more welcoming destination for Chinese visitors who are responsible for the highest level of expenditure of all international visitor markets for Victoria.

“Our Chinese visitor program aims to make our Chinese visitors feel respected and welcome as they arrive at Melbourne Airport, including Chinese signage and announcements. We also provide cultural training to our staff.”

“This announcement also reflects the success of our ‘Team Melbourne’ partnership approach with State Government and other key partners. We thank everyone who works with us on growing air services to Melbourne.”

“Melbourne Airport also offers our airline customers competitive operational benefits, including low aeronautical charges and high service levels. Our curfew-free, single terminal precinct also provides passengers and airlines with greater convenience and flexibility between transfers,” Mr Woodruff said.

We thank China Southern for their investment in Melbourne and support of the Melbourne-China market, and look forward to working with China Southern in making Melbourne their number one destination in Australia.”

(BTN 2011)

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Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/539/5398285.html

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Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/540/5405326.html

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Hundreds of flights canceled, impact on rail services limited
Updated: 2011-08-08 07:53
By Yang Yijun (China Daily)

SHANGHAI - Typhoon Muifa, which hit the country's coastal cities over the weekend, severely affected transport in East China, especially air transport.

Hundreds of flights in the region were canceled. According to the Shanghai Airport's website, only 25 flights took off or landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport up to 1 pm on Sunday. Traffic at the airport did not resume until 2 pm, when the effects of the typhoon began to ease.

Hongqiao International Airport, in the west of the city, was less affected by the typhoon, with 90 flights having taken off or landed at the airport by 1 pm.

On Saturday, about 260 flights were canceled at both airports because of the typhoon.

The hotlines of major airlines, including China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines, were busy on Sunday as passengers inquired about flights.

The airlines regularly updated flight information on their websites. China Eastern canceled nearly 150 flights taking off and landing in Shanghai and Hangzhou on Sunday. Air China also canceled 133 flights on Saturday and 159 flights on Sunday from or to Shanghai and cities in Zhejiang province, including Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Ningbo and Taizhou.

"I booked a ticket on an Air China flight from Beijing to Shanghai this morning, but the company informed me by SMS that the flight was canceled," said a white-collar worker in Beijing surnamed Yu. "I tried China Eastern Airlines later but also failed. Now I'm on the high-speed train."

However, the typhoon's influence on railway transport was limited.

"No trains, including the high-speed trains departing from Shanghai, have been affected by typhoon Muifa so far," Chen Wanjun, spokesman with the Shanghai Railway Bureau, told China Daily on Sunday afternoon.

Shanghai Metro's official micro blog said on Sunday that all the metro lines were operating normally.

The company had said earlier that if the typhoon alert was raised to orange, it would limit the speed on above-ground lines and shorten the routes.

[hkskyline]

Dalian Airlines established
China Daily
2011-08-10

Dalian Airlines, the first airline company based in Dalian, was established on Monday in the port city of Northeast China’s Liaoning province.

According to Lu Lin, head of the free trade zone, Dalian Airlines was co-founded by Air China Limited and Dalian Free Trade Zone, investing 800 million yuan and 200 million yuan respectively.

The company is expected to commence business within 2011. In the beginning, three Boeing737-800 planes will be used for the domestic transport of both travelers and goods.

Air routes to Beijing, Shanghai, and other big cities will open first. Gradually, the routes will cover most of the main cities in China.

[hkskyline]

1st direct flight from China arrives in Honolulu
10 August 2011

HONOLULU (AP) — The first regularly scheduled direct flight between China and Hawaii has arrived in Honolulu.

The inaugural China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai arrived at Honolulu International Airport Tuesday. Passengers were greeted with flower lei, Hawaiian music and hula.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority projects that more than 91,000 visitors from China are to arrive this year. HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney says the new route comes after Hawaii tourism officials worked aggressively to secure direct air service from China. It's expected to provide up to $60 million in annual visitor expenditures and stimulate new jobs in the state.

Among the passengers were 18 members of the Chinese media who are to spend three nights on Oahu and the Big Island generating story ideas about Hawaii as a visitor destination.

[hkskyline]

Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/541/5411066.html

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CAAC announces plans to manage flight delays
Updated: 2011-08-15 17:32
China Daily

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has announced that flights delayed by more than two hours will be given priority to take off and it will coordinate with the military to open provisional airspace and routes during large-scale flight delays, Xinhua News Agency said.

CAAC Vice Minister Xia Xinghua told Xinhua that the Air Traffic Management Bureau will allow flights delayed by over two hours to depart first and ensure that planes take off within half an hour of door closing.

Xia also told Xinhua that recovery plans and coordination with the military to open provisional airspace and routes will be put into effect, and CAAC will work with airline operation control departments in real-time monitoring of flights.

[hkskyline]

Policies to keep flight delays to a minimum
Updated: 2011-08-16 07:49
By Xin Dingding (China Daily)

BEIJING - Many travelers in China can remember a time when they managed to get aboard a plane for their scheduled departure only to have to wait for hours before leaving because of troubles with "air traffic control".

If the Civil Aviation Administration has its way, such delays will be a thing of the past.

In response to complaints about late departures, the civil aviation authority announced over the weekend new policies aimed at getting planes to be more punctual.

Policies to keep flight delays to a minimum

Xia Xinghua, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration, told Xinhua that air traffic controllers are now required to ensure that planes take off within half an hour of when their cabin doors are closed.

Those workers are also to approve the departures of flights that have already been delayed for more than two hours, he said.

In the past, traffic controllers have tended to postpone the departures of flights that are already late so that other flights can be kept on time.

The new policies will have one important exception: They will not be in effect when the weather is bad.

When a large number of delays are brought on by bad weather or other complications, traffic controllers will work with the military, which controls airspace, to temporarily open up routes along which stranded planes can fly, he said.

Airline companies are also being encouraged to communicate more with air traffic controller and to arrange proper times for passengers to get on board.

Many critics contend airlines often move passengers onto an airplane to avoid paying the compensation they would owe if a delay occurred while the passengers were still in the airport.

While trying to ensure more flights leave on time, officials have not lowered the priority they place on passenger safety, said Li Jiaxiang, chief of the Civil Aviation Administration.

The policies are in part a result of the frequent flight delays that have been caused by thunderstorms this summer, raising the ire of many passengers.

Wan Changming, spokesman for the public security bureau at the Beijing Capital International Airport, said police officers have received 253 calls in June and July from people who want them to deal with disputes stemming from flight delays. That number is up 166 percent from what it was this past year.

Most of the disputes have concerned angry passengers who beat up airline workers, broke into airport parking aprons or refused to leave a plane.

Altogether, scheduled flights in China have become less punctual in recent times, despite the measures that have been taken to prevent that from happening. In 2010, the percentage of flights that left on time dropped below 80 percent for the first time, falling to 75 percent, according to the Civil Aviation Administration.

Airline sources who requested anonymity said it will be impossible to meet the goals of the new policies, largely because the traffic at big airports is heavy and departure times are hard to predict.

Many netizens also doubted the measures will actually help to prevent flight delays and speculated that the airlines will find a way around the authority's requirements.

Jing Lei, a university student, said the new policies could make it take longer to check in luggage and board planes.

"Passengers will be kept waiting as usual, except that they now will wait outside the plane instead of inside," she said.

Zou Jianjun, an associate professor with the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China, said he believes the new measures might lead to more disputes at airports.

"Taking off 30 minutes after the cabin doors are closed is a requirement in normal conditions," he said, urging passengers to be more rational. "But many passengers could misunderstand that and use it as an excuse to seek compensation when bad weather causes delays."