Hainan Airlines

Hainan Airlines
海南航空
IATA ICAO Call sign
HU CHH HAINAN
FoundedOctober 1989; 35 years ago (1989-10)
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programFortune Wings Club
Subsidiaries
Fleet size216
Destinations104[1]
Parent companyFangda Group[2][3]
Traded asSSE: 600221
HeadquartersNo. 7 Guoxing Avenue, Meilan, Haikou, Hainan, China[4]
Key people
Websitehnair.com
hainanairlines.com

Hainan Airlines is an airline headquartered in Haikou, Hainan, China. It is the largest civilian-run and majority state-owned[5] air transport company, making it the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People's Republic of China, and the tenth-largest airline in Asia[6] in terms of passengers carried. It operates scheduled domestic and international services on 500 routes from Hainan and nine locations on the mainland, as well as charter services. Its main base is located at Haikou Meilan International Airport,[7] with hubs at Beijing Capital International Airport and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport[8] and several focus cities.

History

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Early years

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Hainan Airlines was established in October 1989 as Hainan Province Airlines in Hainan, the largest special economic zone in China. Hainan Province Airlines became China's first joint-stock air-transport company following a restructuring in January 1993 and began scheduled services on 2 May 1993. The initial 250 million yuan (US$31.25 million) was financed by the Hainan government (5.33%) and the corporate staff (20%). The rest came from institutional shareholders.[9] In 1996, the provincial airline was renamed to Hainan Airlines.

American Aviation LLC, controlled by George Soros, had been a major shareholder of the airline since 1995.[10]

Executive-jet operations with a Bombardier Learjet 55 were added in April 1995. In 1998, Hainan Airlines became the first Chinese carrier to own shares of an airport after it had purchased 25% stake[citation needed] of Haikou Meilan International Airport.

Development since the 2000s

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A now retired Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-300 wearing the airline's former livery

In 2000, HNA Group was established and became the third largest shareholder (7.31%) of Hainan Airlines.[11][clarification needed] It also controlled Shanxi Airlines, Chang An Airlines and China Xinhua Airlines.[citation needed] By 2003 Hainan, the main airline, overtook Chang'an as the fourth largest airline in China.[12]

In 2007 Grand China Air was established as the new holding company, when American Aviation became its subsidiary.

On 29 September 2005, HNA Group ordered 42 Boeing 787-8s, 10 of which were earmarked for the Hainan Airlines fleet. In January 2006, China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation ordered 10 Boeing 737-800s for Hainan Airlines. In September 2006, Hainan Airlines ordered another 15 Boeing 737-800s.

On 4 December 2007, Hainan Airlines acquired three Airbus A340-600s on lease from International Lease Finance Corporation. On 14 November 2007, Hainan Airlines received its first Airbus A330-200. In June 2007, Hainan Airlines ordered 13 Airbus A320-200 aircraft. In late 2007, Hainan Airlines ordered 50 Embraer ERJ-145s and 50 Embraer 190s, with a total value (at list price) of US$2.7 billion. The 50-seat ERJ-145s were produced by the Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry (HEAI) joint venture, located in Harbin. E-190 deliveries began in December 2007. Due to the global financial crisis and huge losses incurred in 2008, the ERJ-145 order was reduced to 25. The E-190 order remained unchanged.

On 25 March 2015, Hainan Airlines announced its intention to acquire 30 Boeing 787-9s, which are all to join the Hainan Airlines Fleet. The delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for completion by 2021.[13] Two leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft were delivered in the spring of 2016.[14][15] Hainan Airlines will also be among the first operators of the Comac C919, with deliveries beginning in the 2020s.

Bankruptcy and restructuring

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Hainan Airlines's parent company HNA Group announced on 19 January 2021 that it had entered bankruptcy restructuring after a government-led exercise to work out its debt failed to produce enough money to repay bondholders and creditors.[16] As of 24 September 2021, HNA Group was broken into four components, one of which is the airline component, due to the bankruptcy court order.[17] Liaoning Fangda Group Industrial, a conglomerate with business in the carbon, steel, and pharmaceuticals industries, will invest in the airline component.[17]

Corporate affairs

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Offices

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HNA Building, headquarters in Haikou

Hainan Airlines and the HNA Group have their headquarters in the HNA Building (simplified Chinese: 新海航大厦; traditional Chinese: 新海航大廈; pinyin: Xīn Hǎiháng Dàshà),[18][19] in Haikou, Hainan.[20] With other office premises, HNA Tower, in focused cities including Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. It was previously headquartered in the HNA Development Building also known as the Haihang Development Building (海航发展大厦; 海航發展大廈; Hǎiháng Fāzhǎn Dàshà) along Haixiu Road in Haikou.[21][22][23]

Shareholders

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As of 31 December 2016, the Hainan provincial government owns 53.67% of Hainan Airlines' shares through Grand China Air Holding Company, which is controlled by the investment arm of the Hainan government.[5] Grand China Air is the direct parent company of Hainan Airlines (24.33% shares directly; an additional 1.29% shares via a subsidiary American Aviation LDC),[24] which was partially owned by Hainan Development Holdings (24.97%), HNA Group (23.11%), Starstep (9.57%), Haikou Meilan International Airport (8.30%), Shenhua Group (5.56%) and other shareholders (As of 30 June 2016).[25] HNA Group owned 3.53% shares directly and via Changjiang Leasing, owned an additional 3.08% shares as the second largest shareholder.[24] Haikou Meilan International Airport was the third largest shareholder for 5.13% shares.[24] Moreover, HNA Group also owned Haikou Meilan International Airport partially, as well as Hainan Airlines as cross ownership. A private equity fund that was managed by Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, owned 4.91% shares as the fourth largest shareholder.[24]

Destinations

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As of January 2017, Hainan Airlines operates seven bases across China: Beijing–Capital, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen and Xi'an.[26] It operates an extensive network across the People's Republic of China, connecting Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania and serves nearly 500 domestic and international routes, flying to more than 90 cities.

Hainan operates regular international flights and offers charter flights to 51 destinations in 28 countries such as flights from Beijing to Almaty, Toronto, Berlin, Brussels, Seattle/Tacoma, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tel Aviv, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Jose, California, and Boston; Beijing, Xi'an, Dalian, Guangzhou, Haikou to Taipei; Beijing, Haikou, Nanning to Bangkok; Hefei via Haikou to Singapore and others.[27] Hainan also received official approval from the US DOT to begin non-stop flights between Beijing and Chicago. As of June 2014, Hainan began servicing Boston directly with a four-times-weekly 787 flight from Beijing Capital International Airport. It was the first direct flight between Boston and China.[28] The airline began service in the second quarter of 2013 with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and was the first Chinese carrier to offer flights between the two cities. Flights from Beijing-Capital to Chicago-O'Hare began on 3 September 2013.[29][30]

On 23 October 2015, Hainan announced flights to Manchester, United Kingdom, starting in summer 2016.[31] Hainan announced the launch of a direct route between Beijing and Calgary, Canada, as of 30 June 2016.[32] During the second half of 2017, Hainan Airlines began flights from Shanghai to Tel Aviv and restarted flights from Shanghai to Brussels.[33] In late September 2017 Hainan Airlines commenced direct flights to and from Brisbane, Australia, several times a week, and also to Belgrade, Serbia, via Prague, every Monday and Friday. On 8 March 2018, Hainan Airlines announced flights between Changsha and London Heathrow, commencing 23 March 2018.[34] On 15 March 2018, they announced round trip flights between Beijing–Capital, Dublin, and Edinburgh commencing 12 June 2018.[35] In mid-October 2018, flights from Shenzhen to Vienna were launched. A non-stop route to Belgrade, Serbia was launched on 16 July 2022.[36]

Codeshare agreements

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Hainan Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[37]

Fleet

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Current fleet

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Hainan Airlines Airbus A330-300
Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-800
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-8

As of August 2024, Hainan Airlines operates the following aircraft:[43]

Hainan Airlines fleet
Aircraft In
service
Orders Passengers Notes
C W Y Total
Airbus A320neo 1 3 4 168 172
Airbus A330-200 8 36 178 214
18 242 260
Airbus A330-300 20 32 260 292
24 279 303
Boeing 737-800 133 8 156 164
162 170
179 179
186 186
189 189
Boeing 737 MAX 8 16 34[44] 8 168 176
Boeing 787-8 10 36 177 213
Boeing 787-9 28 30 259 289
262 292
26 21 247 294
Comac C909 40[45]
TBA
Comac C919 80[46]
TBA
Total 216 157

Former fleet

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Hainan Airlines has previously operated the following aircraft:[citation needed]

Hainan Airlines former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A319-100 6 2005 2008 Transferred to Deer Air.
Airbus A340-600 3 2008 2014
Airbus A350-900[47] 2 2019 2020
Boeing 737-300 8 1993 2014
Boeing 737-300SF 1 2004 2005 Transferred to Yangtze River Express.
Boeing 737-400 7 1995 2014
Boeing 737-700 6 2011 2019
Boeing 767-300ER 5 2002 2018
Fairchild Dornier 328JET 27 1999 2009

Cabin

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Business Class

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Hainan Airlines business class on an Airbus A330 aircraft

Business class is available on all Hainan Airlines aircraft. Business class on the Airbus A330-200 is configured in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats has a 74-inch seat pitch and a 10.6-inch personal entertainment system.[48] Business class on the Airbus A330-300 features a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are in a reversed herringbone layout with a seat pitch of 45-inches. The seats can recline up to 180 degrees and is nearly 2 meters long when converted into a bed. The seats feature a Thales AVANT 15.4-inch touchscreens with touch handle.[49] The Airbus A350 business class seats are configured in a 1-2-1 layout with 27.5-inch wide seats and 76-inch long beds when fully reclined. The seats feature the Panasonic EX3 system with a 16-inch 1080P HD touch screen/remote control entertainment system.[50] On the Boeing 787-8 and older Boeing 787-9s, business class features a 2-2-2 configuration and has a seat pitch between 73 and 80-inches. The seats feature a 16-inch touchscreen entertainment system equipped with BOSE noise-reducing head sets.[51] Newer Boeing 787-9s equipped with the “Dream Feather” cabin design has business class seats similar to those on the Airbus A330-300s. The seats however feature increased seat pitch and improved seat fabrics and decor.[52]

Premium Economy

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Premium economy is only available on newer Boeing 787-9 aircraft with the “Dream Feather” cabin design. The seats are designed by Collins MiQ and feature a seven-inch recline, 38-inch seat pitch and a four-way adjustable head rest. The seats also feature a Panasonic EX3 Entertainment System and a 13 inch 1080p HD screen, as well as a USB Charing port, tablet stand and a footrest. Premium economy class seats are located in a separate cabin from the economy class seats.[53]

Economy Class

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Economy class on a Hainan Airlines Airbus A330 aircraft

Economy class is featured on all Hainan Airlines aircraft. Seats on long haul flights have a seat pitch of 32 inches as well as a 9-12 inch personal entertainment screen. USB ports are also available on newer aircraft.[54]

Services

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Lounges

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Hainan Airlines operates several self-owned airport lounges at its main hub and focus cities including Beijing (T1 HNA Exclusive Terminal), Haikou, Xi'an, Guangzhou, and Urumqi. In addition, the airline will soon open its exclusive international departure lounge at its main international hub Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2. The airline also operates an exclusive Transit Lounge for transferring HNA Group passengers at Beijing Airport Non-restricted area.

Frequent-flyer program

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Hainan Airlines's frequent-flyer program is called Fortune Wings Club (simplified Chinese: 金鹏俱乐部; traditional Chinese: 金鵬俱樂部; pinyin: Jīn Péng Jùlèbù). The airlines's subsidiaries Hong Kong Airlines, Lucky Air, Tianjin Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Urumqi Airlines, Suparna Airlines, GX Airlines, Fuzhou Airlines and parent company Grand China Air are also parts of the program. It is also possible for passengers to collect miles on Alaska Airlines, Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia, TAP Portugal and the airlines that have codeshare agreements with Hainan Airlines.[55] Members can earn miles on flights as well as through consumption with Hainan Airlines's credit card. When enough miles are collected, members can be upgraded to Elite members which are divided into four tiers: Fortune Wings Platinum membership, Gold membership, Silver membership, and Flying Card membership. Elite membership get extra services.[56]

Accolades

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Hainan Airlines is one of ten airlines worldwide rated as five-star by Skytrax, along with All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.[57]

In June 2019 they were ranked #7 in the Skytrax World's Top 10 Airlines of 2019 ratings[58] and were winners in the following additional categories: Best Airline in China: World's Best Business Class Amenities, Best Airline Staff in China, Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in China, and Best Cabin Crew in China.[59]

See also

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References

[edit]
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  2. ^ Zhao, Shirley (8 December 2021). "HNA Cedes Control of Core Airline Operations Marking End of Era". Bloomberg. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. ^ "錯誤 - RTHK". news.rthk.hk.
  4. ^ 联系我们 (in Simplified Chinese). Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 8 June 2018. 中国总部...中华人民共和国海南省海口市国兴大道7号,海航大厦海南航空控股股份有限公司,邮编:570206
  5. ^ a b "List of Government-Owned and Privatized Airlines" (PDF). ICAO. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  6. ^ "The Largest Airlines in Asia - WorldAtlas". August 2017.
  7. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: 89. 3 April 2007.
  8. ^ Kuan, Albert (20 December 2018). "Hainan Airlines Announces Xi'an Service From Los Angeles - 20 December 2018".
  9. ^ Ji, Minhua; Liu, Gong. "Hainan Airlines to form aviation conglomerate - 10 Jul 2006". Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  10. ^ Zeng, Qingkai (17 October 2005). "Soros injects another US$25m into Hainan Airlines". China Daily. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  11. ^ "2000 Annual Report" (PDF). Hainan Airlines (in Chinese). Shanghai Stock Exchange. 17 April 2001. p. 7. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  12. ^ Ionides, Nicholas. "Bigger is Better." Flightglobal. 16–22 September 2003. p. 43. Retrieved on 30 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Chinese airline set to order 30 Boeing 787-9 jets". The Seattle Times. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Hainan Airlines". Airliner World: 17. July 2015.
  15. ^ Roldan, Maria Corina (26 May 2017). "Hainan Airlines To Add 13 787-9s and Six 737 MAX 8s". Airways. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  16. ^ Ouyang, Iris (29 January 2021). "HNA Group enters bankruptcy restructuring as China's largest asset buyer succumbs to debt after decade-long shopping spree". SCMP. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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  18. ^ 海口海航大厦. HNA Group. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  19. ^ "HNA Gallaries." [sic] HNA Group. Retrieved on 30 August 2012.
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  22. ^ "Contacts." (Archive) Hainan Airlines. Retrieved on 26 August 2012. "Address: Haihang Development Building, No.29 Haixiu Road, Haikou, Hainan Province, PRC. 570206"
  23. ^ 海南航空股份有限公司 600221 2010 年半年度报告 (PDF) (in Chinese (China)). Hainan Airlines. August 2010. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012. 海南省海口市海秀路29 号海航发展大厦
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  25. ^ 简式权益变动报告书 (PDF). Hainan Airlines (in Chinese). Shanghai Stock Exchange. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
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  28. ^ "Massport - Governor Patrick Announces Boston-Beijing Nonstop Flights". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  29. ^ "Chinese airline gets OK for Chicago-Beijing flights". Chicago Business. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  30. ^ "Hainan Airlines - Cherished Experience". Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
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  32. ^ "Chinese airline launches non-stop flights between Calgary and Beijing". Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  33. ^ "Hainan Airlines to launch Tel Aviv-Shanghai flights". globes. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
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  35. ^ "Direct route from Edinburgh to Beijing". edinburghairport.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  36. ^ "Beijing = Belgrade Routes Launched". Retrieved 18 July 2022.
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  39. ^ "Hainan Airlines Adds Beijing Capital Hangzhou – Madrid Codeshare From June 2024". AeroRoutes.
  40. ^ Hainan Airlines / Iberia begins codeshare partnership from late-Oct 2019
  41. ^ "Hainan Airlines Adds ITA Airways Spain Codeshare in NW23".
  42. ^ "Virgin Australia and Hainan Airlines launch codeshare". Finder.com.au. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  43. ^ "Fleet Information". Hainan Airlines.
  44. ^ "Boeing, Hainan Airlines Announce Commitment for 50 737 MAX 8s". Boeing (Press release). Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  45. ^ https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/zhuhai-air-show-opens-with-orders-comac-glimpse-future-spaceplane-2024-11-12/
  46. ^ https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/zhuhai-air-show-opens-with-orders-comac-glimpse-future-spaceplane-2024-11-12/
  47. ^ "HNA Group to order fifteen A350 for Hainan Airlines". 3 May 2018.
  48. ^ "Introduction of Airbus 330-200". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Airbus 330-300 (reverse herringbone seat layout)". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  50. ^ "Introduction of Airbus 350-900". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  51. ^ "Boeing 787-9". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  52. ^ ""Dream Feather"". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  53. ^ "Premium economy class seat". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  54. ^ "Economy class seats". Hainan Airlines. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  55. ^ Hainan Airlines. "Notice on Application". Archived from the original on 7 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  56. ^ "Elite Membership". Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  57. ^ "The world's 5 Star Airlines | SKYTRAX". Archived from the original on 18 June 2015.
  58. ^ "The World's Top 10 Airlines of 2019". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  59. ^ "A-Z Airline Awards Winners 2019". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
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