Air Changan

Air Changan (simplified Chinese: 长安航空; traditional Chinese: 長安航空; pinyin: Cháng'ān Hángkōng) is a Chinese domestic airline. Its main operating base is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, serving several cities in Shaanxi Province. Initially an independent carrier, Air Changan merged with Hainan Airlines in 2000 and was later absorbed into that airline. Air Changan resumed service as an independent airline in May 2016, providing flights to four Chinese cities with three Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Air Changan
长安航空
IATA ICAO Callsign
9H CGN CHANG AN
Founded11 April 1992
Commenced operations5 January 1993
Operating basesXi'an Xianyang International Airport
Fleet size11
Destinations33
Parent companyHainan Airlines (59.43%)
HeadquartersXi'an, Shaanxi
Websitewww.airchangan.com

History

In order to develop the local economy and aviation industry, in September 1990, the Shaanxi provincial government and local aircraft manufacturers began planning for a local airline, to operate with three Xian Y-7 aircraft. On 2 March 1992, the provincial government named the airline as Air Changan. On 11 April 1992, Air Changan was formally founded, merging Dapeng Airlines in to the new entity. On 5 January 1993, the first flight of Air Changan operated, from Xi'an to Yulin. Then was transfer to be operated by the provincial government only, after the aircraft manufacturers left the venture due to new regulations coming into effect.

On 30 August 2000, Air Changan was purchased by Hainan Airlines (HNA) and renamed Chang An Airlines. On 1 July 2002, the first Boeing 737-400 was put into operation. In October 2002, Chang An Airlines, Xinhua Airlines and Shanxi Airlines were merged into Hainan Airlines.

In December 2015, HNA Group began talks with the Shaanxi provincial government regarding the restoration of Chang An Airlines as an independent carrier. The airline would return to its original focus of flights within and out of Shaanxi Province.[1] The airline rebranded as its original name and unveiled its own livery.[2] After receiving its air operator certificate in April 2016,[2] Air Changan resumed operations as an independent airline the following month on 9 May. The inaugural flight was from Xi'an to Zhuhai. During the customary water salute upon arrival in Zhuhai, the fire engines accidentally sprayed foam instead. As a result, the aircraft had to undergo a safety check, and the return flight was cancelled.[3]

Corporate affairs

Hainan Airlines holds an 83.3% stake in the airline, up 21.9% following a 1.01 billion yuan share purchase in September 2015.[4]

Destinations

People's Republic of China

Fleet
Three of the airline's Boeing 737-800s parked in a row in 2016. The aircraft furthest away wears Air Changan titles, while the middle of the three wears Chang An Airlines titles.
An Air Changan Boeing 737-800 in 2012, wearing the pre–Hainan Airlines merger livery

Current fleet

As of December 2022, Air Changan operates the following aircraft:[5][6]

Air Chang'an fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-800 11 — 186
189
Total 11 —

Previously operated

Air Changan previously operated the following aircraft:[7][8][9]

References
  1. "HNA Group to Restore Chang An Air as Independent Carrier". China Aviation Daily. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  2. Ge, Lena (19 April 2016). "Revived Air Changan Unveils Brand New Livery". China Aviation Daily. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  3. "Video: Air ChangAn Inaugural Flight Grounded Due to Foam Canon Salute Instead of Water". China Aviation Daily. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  4. "China's Air ChangAn Returns to Independent Operations". China Aviation Daily. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  5. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 9.
  6. "民航休闲小站".
  7. Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
  8. :: 长安航空公司 ::. travel.news.cn. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
  9. 新舟60介绍. CAAC. Retrieved 2016-07-11.

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