Asia China China Guide Things To Do Essentials Itineraries All China A Directory of Chinese Domestic Airline Companies for China Travel Written by Sara Naumann Twitter Linkedin Sarah Naumann is a long-term Shanghai resident and expert on travel to China. She currently writes for Air France's Flying Blue China Club. Tripsavvy's Editorial Guidelines Sara Naumann Updated 06/03/19 Share Pin Email Frank Short/Getty Images China, one of the largest and fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, has a vast array of airlines for domestic and international travel. Since many folks come to China on package tours, it is easy to be completely unaware of what airline you're traveling with. However, if you're booking your own way, knowing who operates out of where can be a big help in purchasing tickets. Discount airlines, like Spring Airlines, won't come up in search, so it's helpful to check them out for discounts. And it's also nice to know with whom the airlines are partners, so you can rack up some extra miles along the way. 01 of 13 Air China Air China is one of China's largest carriers and has flights all over China, Asia and the rest of the world. As a Star Alliance member, Air China flights on the same routes as its partner can be a cheaper option but airplanes are typically rather old with few modern amenities (like overhead lights that work). Chinese Name: 中国国际航空公司 Airline Code: CA Website: Air China Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Star Alliance and PhoenixMiles Symbol: a stylized red phoenix 02 of 13 China Eastern Airlines Based in Shanghai, China Eastern operates domestic flights all over China as well as strong international flight routes. Chinese Name: 中国东方航空公司 Airline Code: MU Website: China Eastern Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Eastern Miles Symbol: a white bird on a blue and red background 03 of 13 China Southern Airlines Based in Guangzhou, China Southern serves mostly southern China but also operates many Asia and broader international flights. It touts a relatively modern fleet of airplanes. Chinese Name: 中国南方航空公司 Airline Code: CZ Website: China Southern Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Sky Pearl Club and Sky Team Symbol: stylized red kapok flower on a blue background 04 of 13 Chongqing Airlines Based in Chongqing, this airline is a very small company serving domestic routes only. Chinese Name: 重庆航空 Airline Code: OQ Website: Chongqing Air Home (only Chinese language) Symbol: a red swoosh over a blue swoosh Continue to 5 of 13 below. 05 of 13 Hainan Airlines Hainan Airlines is based out of Haikou, Hainan Island but has extensive domestic routes as well as limited international routes mostly in Eastern Europe. Chinese Name: 海南航空公司 Airline Code: HU Website: Hainan Airlines Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Fortune Wings Club 06 of 13 Juneyao Airlines Juneyao is a discount airline based out of Shanghai. Chinese Name: 吉祥航空公司 Airline Code: HO Website: Juneyao Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: none 07 of 13 Lucky Air Lucky Air is a tiny airline operating out of Dali in Yunnan Province. Chinese Name: 祥鹏航空公司 Airline Code: 8L Website: Lucky Air Home (Chinese language only) Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: none 08 of 13 Shandong Airlines Shandong Airlines serves northeast China out of Jinan the Shandong Provincial capital. Chinese Name: 山东航空公司 Airline Code: SC Website: Shandong Airlines Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Shandong Airlines is partnered with Air China so joins Star Alliance and PhoenixMiles loyalty programs. Continue to 9 of 13 below. 09 of 13 Shanghai Airlines Based in Shanghai, Shanghai Airlines operates flights all over China as well as some international destinations. Chinese Name: 上海航空公司 Airline Code: FM Website: Shanghai Airlines Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Star Alliance and Crane Club Symbol: a stylized red crane 10 of 13 Shenzhen Airlines Shenzhen Airlines is based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province and serves the Chinese domestic market with a very few international (Asian) flights. Chinese Name: 深圳航空公司 Airline Code: ZH Website: Shenzhen Air Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: King Club Mileage Program Symbol: a stylized "roc" or "peng" bird - a divine bird 11 of 13 Sichuan Airlines Sichuan Airlines serves the domestic market out of Chengdu, Sichuan's Provincial capital. It's one of the few airlines serving Lhasa from Chengdu. Chinese Name: 四川航空公司 Airline Code: 3U Website: Sichuan Air Home (Chinese language only). Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Golden Panda 12 of 13 Spring Airlines Spring Airlines is a discount airline based out of Shanghai. Flights advertised on their site start at 99rmb. This bare-bones operation offers only water on board the flight (meals can be purchased). The airline operates limited domestic flight routes out of Shanghai. Flights can only be purchased from their website. Chinese Name: 春秋航空公司 Airline Code: 9C Website: Spring Air Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: none Continue to 13 of 13 below. 13 of 13 Xiamen Airlines Xiamen Airlines is owned by China Southern Airlines. Its base is in Xiamen, Fujian Province and operates a large network of domestic flights out of Xiamen. It also has a hub in Hangzhou. Xiamen Airlines operates limited Asian international flights. Chinese Name: 厦门航空公司 Airline Code: MF Website: Xiamen Air Home Partnerships and Frequent Flyer Programs: Egret Card Symbol: a white egret flying on a blue background Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit