Airline profile · Southeast Asia & Pacific

Air China

ChinaFull-service carrierStar Alliance memberSince 1988

CAIATA code

CCAICAO code

Air China (IATA CA, ICAO CCA) is China's national flag carrier, a full-service airline headquartered in Beijing and a Star Alliance member since December 2007. At 31 December 2025 the Air China group, which includes subsidiaries such as Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Air Macau, operated 964 aircraft and carried about 160 million passengers that year.

Founded: 1988
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Country: China
Main hubs: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) · Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU)
Airline type: Full-service carrier
Alliance: Star Alliance
Loyalty: PhoenixMiles
Parent: China National Aviation Holding Corporation (CNAHC)
Ownership: State-controlled through China National Aviation Holding Corporation (CNAHC), with shares listed in Hong Kong, London and Shanghai. Cathay Pacific held 15.09% of Air China at the end of 2025, and Air China is in turn a substantial shareholder of Cathay Pacific.
Callsign: AIR CHINA
Website: airchina.com.cn

How travel agents book Air China

GDS distribution

No public GDS distribution agreement for Air China was verified at time of writing. Agents should confirm Air China content and ticketing options with their GDS provider or consolidator.

NDC

No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.

Direct channels

Direct bookings through Air China's websites (airchina.com.cn) and app.

On ReservationHub

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History of Air China

Air China was established in 1988 to take over the airline operations of the Beijing bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which had been flying since 1955. In October 2002 the state created China National Aviation Holding Corporation (CNAHC) to hold the group's airline assets, and the operations of China Southwest Airlines and CNAC Zhejiang Airlines were folded into Air China.

The listed company, Air China Limited, was incorporated on 30 September 2004. Its H shares began trading in Hong Kong and London on 15 December 2004, and it is also listed in Shanghai. Air China joined Star Alliance in December 2007 and was the official airline partner for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Air China and Cathay Pacific hold shares in each other. The group has also become an early user of Chinese-built aircraft: by the end of 2025 it flew 35 COMAC C909 regional jets and nine C919s, six of which arrived during 2025, with more C919s planned each year to 2028.

Milestones

1988Air China established from the CAAC Beijing bureau's airline operations.
2004Air China Limited incorporated on 30 September; H shares listed in Hong Kong and London on 15 December.
2007Joined Star Alliance in December.
2008Official airline partner of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2024Opened Beijing to Riyadh on 6 May and Beijing Capital to Dhaka on 10 July.
2025Group fleet reached 964 aircraft at 31 December, including nine COMAC C919s.

Fleet

Airbus A320 family Airbus A330 Airbus A350-900 Boeing 737 family Boeing 747 Boeing 777 Boeing 787 COMAC C909 (ARJ21) COMAC C919

Aircraft types in service as of 2025

At 31 December 2025 the Air China group operated 964 aircraft, of which 533 belonged to Air China itself. The group fleet comprised 369 A320-family jets, 50 A330s, 30 A350s, 417 Boeing 737s, nine 747s, 28 777s, 14 787s, 35 C909s, nine C919s and three business jets. Of these, 418 were owned and 546 leased. Air China plans to add ten C919s in 2026, ten in 2027 and 15 in 2028, alongside further A320neo-family jets, 737 MAX aircraft and 787s.

Network and hubs

Air China's main hubs are Beijing Capital (PEK) and Chengdu Tianfu (TFU), and Star Alliance also lists Chongqing and Urumqi as hub airports. Star Alliance credits Air China with 209 airports in 46 countries and regions. In 2025 the airline opened or resumed 12 international routes, and the group carried about 160 million passengers, 18.9 million of them on international flights.

For agents in South Asia and the Gulf, Air China launched Beijing to Riyadh on 6 May 2024 with three flights a week, and Beijing Capital to Dhaka on 10 July 2024 using Boeing 737 MAX 8s. Check current schedules before quoting either route.

Air China: frequently asked questions

What are Air China's airline codes?

Air China uses the IATA code CA and the ICAO code CCA, with the radio callsign AIR CHINA. Its three-digit ticket prefix in the IATA airline register is 999, so Air China tickets begin with 999. Subsidiaries such as Shenzhen Airlines and Air Macau use their own codes.

Is Air China a member of Star Alliance?

Yes. Air China joined Star Alliance in December 2007. Its frequent flyer programme, PhoenixMiles, lets members earn and redeem on other Star Alliance airlines, and elite members receive alliance benefits such as lounge access and priority services across the network.

Does Air China fly to Dhaka and Riyadh?

Air China opened Beijing Capital to Dhaka on 10 July 2024 with Boeing 737 MAX 8s, initially twice weekly, and Beijing to Riyadh on 6 May 2024 with three weekly flights. Frequencies change by season, so agents should check the current schedule before selling.

How big is Air China's fleet?

At 31 December 2025 the Air China group operated 964 aircraft, including subsidiaries, with 533 flown by Air China itself. The fleet mixes Airbus A320-family, A330 and A350 jets, Boeing 737, 747, 777 and 787 aircraft, and Chinese-built COMAC C909 and C919 jets.

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Sources

Profile updated 4 November 2026 by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.