Air China: A bit of history
Air China (IATA:CA & ICAO:CCA) is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China. Air China was established and commenced operations on 1 July 1988 as a result of the desicion adopted by the Chinese government buy the end of 1987 to split the operating divisions of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC Airlines) into six separate airlines: Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, China Northern, China Southwest, and China Northwest. As a result of the decision, ir China International Corporation was established and Air China was given the main responsibility for intercontinental flights and took over the CAAC's long haul aircraft and routes.
In October 2002, the Chinese government went ahead with an industry reform plan formulated by the central government and Air China International Corporation, China Aviation Corporation and China Southwest Airlines merged into a new company that was initially named Air China International Corporation but later, in 30 September 2004, rebranded as Air China Limited as we know it today.
Headquartered at Shunyi District in Beijing and from its main hub at Beijing Capital International Airport, Air China operates flights to 766 destinations, including 132 international, 29 regional and 605 domestic routes, with a fleet of of 676 aircraft with an average age of 6.81 years that carry more than 105 million passengers every year round the world. And as member of Star Alliance, Air China’s route network further extends to 1317 destinations in 193 countries. That makes Air China, China's largest airline by brand value and China´s a market leader in air passenger transportation, air cargo and other aviation services.
And interesting fact about Air China´s logo: the corporate logo of Air China represents the legendary bird worshiped by the nation since ancient times as a symbol of luck and happiness, a Phoenix. Chinese ancient literature contains constant references to the bird which “flies from the eastern Happy Land over mountains and seas and bestows luck and happiness upon all parts of the world.”
And if you are planning to attend the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Air China will be the airline of your choice as it has been selected as an official partner.
Air China: The most relevant
- Identification codes: IATA:CA & ICAO:CCA
- Commercial name: Air China.
- Current owners: Air China Group.
- Air China´s headquarters: Shunyi District, Beijing.
- Central Operations HUB: Beijing Capital International Airport.
- Foundation date: 1988.
- Date of first flight: 1 July 1988.
- Number of destinations: 766 destinations.
- Number of flights: More than 40,000 per week.
- Number of active aircraft: 676 aircraft with an average age of 6.8 years.
- Number of aircraft ordered: Not available.
- Number of passengers: More than 105 million per year.
- Number of employees: More than 50,000.
- Belongs to the alliance: Star Alliance
- Frequent flyer program: PhoenixMiles.