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About China Eastern Airlines

A Quick Overview of China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited (branded as China Eastern, IATA: MU) is one of China’s three major airlines, headquartered in Changning District, Shanghai. Established on June 25, 1988, under the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s Huadong Administration, it has grown into the country’s second-largest airline by passenger traffic, carrying over 130 million passengers annually (pre-COVID peak). A member of the SkyTeam Alliance since June 21, 2011, China Eastern operates a modern fleet of over 730 aircraft, serving 1,036 destinations in 170 countries through its hubs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA), Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), and Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG). Known for its slogan, “World-Class Hospitality with Eastern Charm,” the airline emphasizes premium cabin products, digital innovation, and sustainability, while maintaining a strong presence in Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia. Despite challenges like customer service issues and delays, China Eastern is a key player in global aviation, recognized for operating the world’s first COMAC C919 jetliner and achieving a Skytrax 3-Star rating.

History

China Eastern Airlines was founded in 1988 as part of China’s aviation restructuring, taking over the unprofitable China General Aviation in 1997 and becoming the first Chinese airline to offer shares internationally. It merged with China Yunnan Airlines and China Northwest Airlines in 2003, forming China Eastern Air Holding Company (CEA Holding). The airline joined SkyTeam in 2011, enhancing global connectivity.

Key milestones include:

  • 1997: Listed on New York, Hong Kong, and Shanghai stock exchanges, a first for Chinese airlines.
  • 2001: Acquired Great Wall Airlines.
  • 2007: Launched Shanghai–New York (JFK), its longest non-stop route at the time.
  • 2012: Received the “Golden Ting Award” for brand value and ranked top 10 in FORTUNE China’s CSR ranking.
  • 2014: Introduced a new logo and livery, emphasizing modernization.
  • 2016: Added direct flights from Shanghai to Prague, Amsterdam, Madrid, and St. Petersburg
  • 2020: Launched OTT Airlines, a regional subsidiary for domestically produced aircraft like the COMAC C919.
  • 2023: Operated the world’s first commercial C919 flight (Shanghai–Beijing, May 28).
  • 2024: Launched Shanghai–Madrid–Lima route with Air Europa codeshare, marking its Peru debut.
  • 2025: Expanded C919 operations to 24 routes across 16 cities, carrying over 2 million passengers.

Operations

China Eastern operates from its primary hubs in Shanghai (PVG and SHA), with secondary hubs in Xi’an (XIY) and Kunming (KMG). Its network spans over 1,036 destinations, including 200+ cities across Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Africa.

Destinations:
  • Domestic: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xiamen, and 80+ other cities.
  • Asia: Tokyo (NRT/HND), Seoul (ICN), Hong Kong (HKG), Singapore (SIN), Bangkok (BKK).
  • North America: New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Honolulu (HNL).
  • Europe: London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA), Amsterdam (AMS), Madrid (MAD), Prague (PRG).
  • Oceania: Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL).
  • Other: Lima (LIM, via codeshare), Dubai (DXB).
Services:
  • Scheduled Flights: Over 3,000 weekly flights, with 2,231 domestic and 402 Hong Kong regional flights (2004 data, scaled up since).
  • Charter Services: Limited charters for corporate and leisure groups.
  • Cargo: China Cargo Airlines, a subsidiary, operates dedicated freight services.
  • Codeshare & Interline Agreements: Partners with SkyTeam members (e.g., Delta Air Lines, Air France) and others like American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Air Europa.