Air China, officially known as Air China Limited, is the national flag carrier of the People's Republic of China and one of the largest airlines in Asia. Headquartered in Shunyi District, Beijing, the airline operates an extensive global network connecting major cities across Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Africa.
Founded in 1988 following the restructuring of China’s civil aviation administration, Air China has grown into a leading full-service international carrier. The airline is a member of Star Alliance, offering seamless connectivity and code-share partnerships with major global airlines worldwide.
Its main hub is at Beijing Capital International Airport, with additional hubs in major Chinese cities such as Chengdu and Shanghai. Through these hubs, Air China provides efficient domestic connections across China and convenient long-haul services to major global destinations.
| Air China – Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Hubs | Beijing Capital International Airport |
| Founder | Government of China |
| Founded | July 1, 1988 – Beijing, China |
| Headquarters | Beijing, China |
| Destinations | 218 |
| Employees | 65,000 (2023) |
| Fleet Size | 537 Aircraft |
Air China operates an extensive global route network from its primary hubs at Beijing Capital International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. The airline serves destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, Oceania, Africa, and South America — making it one of the few airlines in the world to operate flights to all six inhabited continents.
| Airline Partner |
|---|
| Austrian Airlines |
| Lufthansa |
| Shenzhen Airlines (Subsidiary) |
| Swiss International Air Lines |
| Airlines |
|---|
| Air Canada |
| Air Dolomiti |
| Air Macau |
| Air New Zealand |
| Air Serbia |
| All Nippon Airways |
| Asiana Airlines |
| Avianca |
| Cathay Pacific |
| Egyptair |
| Ethiopian Airlines |
| EVA Air |
| Finnair |
| Hawaiian Airlines |
| LOT Polish Airlines |
| Singapore Airlines |
| South African Airways |
| TAP Air Portugal |
| Turkish Airlines |
| United Airlines |
| Airlines |
|---|
| Air Astana |
| Airlink |
| Emirates |
| flydubai |
| Kuwait Airways |
| Pakistan International Airlines |
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Orders | Typical Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 22 | — | 128 |
| Airbus A319neo | 6 | 4 | Approx. 120+ |
| Airbus A320-200 | 38 | — | 158 |
| Airbus A320neo | 53 | 60 | Approx. 150–180 |
| Airbus A321-200 | 61 | — | 177–185 |
| Airbus A321neo | 43 | 37 | 194–198 |
| Airbus A330-200 | 15 | — | 237–283 |
| Airbus A330-300 | 28 | — | 301–311 |
| Airbus A350-900 | 30 | — | 312 |
| Boeing 737-700 | 14 | — | 128 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 98 | — | 159–176 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 31 | — | 176 |
| Boeing 747-400 | 2 | — | 344 |
| Boeing 747-8I | 7 | — | 365 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 28 | — | 311–392 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 14 | — | 293 |
| Comac C909 | 35 | — | 90 |
| Comac C919-100ER | 9 | 99 | 158 |
| Total | 537 Aircraft | 200 Orders | — |
| Aircraft Type | Introduced | Retired |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A340-300 | 1997 | 2014 |
| Boeing 707-320 | 1988 | 1993 |
| Boeing 737-300 | 1988 | 2014 |
| Boeing 747-200M | 1988 | 2000 |
| Boeing 747SP | 1988 | 2000 |
| Boeing 757-200 | 2003 | 2013 |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 2003 | 2012 |
| Boeing 777-200 | 1998 | 2018 |
