Air China is China’s second largest commercial airline (after China Southern Airlines) and the main carrier to intercontinental destinations. The airline was offered a Star Alliance membership. Currently, it possesses an observer status. With around 200 aircraft, almost 200 destinations on all continents except Africa are served.
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Air China was established on July 1, 1988, when the airline division of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) that had been responsible for all civil aviation activity in China since 1949 was split up into several airlines (China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Northwest Airlines, China Northern Airlines, China Southwest Airlines and Air China).
Air China became the airline mainly responsible for intercontinental flights and thus took over CAAC’s IATA (CA) and ICAO (CCA) code.
On October 28, 2002, the airline China Southwest was integrated into Air China, China National Aviation Corporation including Zhejiang Airlines followed in 2004.
During the last years, there have repeatedly been rumours that Cathay Pacific should be purchased by Air China while Cathay’s parent company, Swire Group, was to buy large shares of Air China’s parent company. Although this has not happened yet, codesharing agreements between the airlines exist and both airlines own about one fifth of each other’s airline.
On May 22, 2006, the airline signed an agreement with Lufthansa. In the wake of these events, Air China was officially offered a membership in Star Alliance. It currently possesses an observer status.
Air China possesses around 200 aircraft, mainly a mix of various kinds of Airbuses and Boeings. The average fleet age is 8.4 years. Almost 200 destinations are served on all continents except Africa.
Air China is China’s second largest commercial airline (after China Southern Airlines). Its main hub is Beijing Capital International Airport.
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