Air China Airline

Air China is the most profitable airline in the world and was rated by Skytrax as a four-star airline in June 2011. It is the largest state-owned airline in China, and possesses the best aviation fleet.

Quick Facts

• English Name: Air China Limited
• Chinese Name: 中国国际航空股份有限公司
• Total Asset: RMB 35,900,000,000
• Brand Value: RMB 28,733,000,000
• Employees: over 23,000
• Alliance Member: Star Alliance
• IATA Code:CA
• ICAO Code: CCA
• Headquarters: 30 Beijing Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone, Tianzhu Road, Shunyi District, Beijing, China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国北京市顺义区中国北京天竺空港经济开发区天柱路30 号)
• Main Hubs: Beijing Capital International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
• Secondary Hubs: Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Hohhot Baita International Airport, Tianjin Binhai International Airport, Qinghai Linqing International Airport, and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
• Frequent Flyer Program: Phoenix Miles
• Official Website: www.airchina.com.cn

• INTRODUCTION
• PHOENIX MILES
• MEMBER OF STAR ALLIANCE
• FLEET AND DESTINATIONS
• LUGGAGE ALLOWANCES
• IN-FLIGHT FOOD
• SPECIAL SERVICE REQUESTS
• MAIN ROUTES OF AIR CHINA

INTRODUCTION

Air China, founded in 1988, is one of the three largest airlines in China. The other two are China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. Air China is the most profitable airline in the world, with total asset of RMB 35,900,000,000. Ranked 36th on China's list of 500 Most Influential Brands, as announced by World Brand Value Lab 2010, Air China's brand value has reached RMB 28,733,000,000. It is also the only civil airline in China ranked as one of the world's 500 most influential brands, and was rated by Skytrax as a four-star airline in June 2011.

Air China is the only airline in China that can hang the country's national flag, operate special planes for leaders of China, and provide charter flights for leaders of foreign countries who visit China. It is the largest state-owned airline in China, and possesses the best aviation fleet.

Air China's headquarters are at 30 Beijing Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone on Tianzhu Road in Shunyi District in Beijing. The airline has numerous branches in Zhejiang Province, Chongqing, Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hubei Province, Guizhou Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and many other major cities in China.

Air China's LOGO

Air China's logo contains a red artistic phoenix that is also a transfiguration of the word "VIP," sending the message that Air China treats every passenger as a VIP. According to Chinese legend, phoenixes are sacred birds that bring peace, prosperity, and luck. Air China endeavors for all of its passengers to have smooth and happy journeys. The logo also contains the Chinese name of Air China written in calligraphy by former national leader Deng Xiaoping, and ""AIR CHINA" in English.

MEMBER OF Star Alliance

Air China is a member of Star Alliance, the world's foremost interairline alliance. Star Alliance currently has 27 member carriers that operate at 1,160 airports in 181 countries, with a fleet of over 4,000 aircraft. Passengers are the direct beneficiaries of Air China's membership in Star Alliance. For example, Air China passengers enjoy:

1. A seamless travel experience on connecting flights, and should delays occur on any leg of your journey, you are notified the moment your plane lands; Air China also helps you find an alternative flight that suits your schedule;
2. Easy check-in and ticketing through to your final destination, with boarding passes issued at your first check-in for all of your subsequent connecting flights; Minimum Connecting Times (MCTs) may apply;
3. Easy, flexible ticket transfers to another flight in the event of a delay or a cancellation of your scheduled flight;
4. Earning frequent flyer miles on every flight on airlines that are members of Star Alliance.

FLEET AND DESTINATIONS

As of 2011, Air China possessed 280 aircrafts with an average age of 7.4 years, most of which are Airbus and Boeing. Currently, Air China utilizes over 260 aircraft that fly to over 150 domestic and international destinations. Its extensive domestic route reaches almost 100 locations in China, and the airline's international routes mainly reach Asian, Australian, and European destinations, as well as selected destinations in South Africa and the U.S.

Domestic Destinations

International Destinations

LUGGAGE ALLOWANCES

Carry-on Luggage

Every piece of carry-on luggage must not exceed 55 cm (1.8 ft) in width, 40 cm (1.3 ft) in length, and 20 cm (0.7 ft) in height, respectively.

For Passengers on International Flights

Every business-class and first-class passenger is allowed two pieces of carry-on luggage that do not exceed 8 kilograms (17.5 pounds) each. Each economy-class passenger can bring one piece of carry-on luggage weighing no more than 5 kilograms (11 pounds).

For Passengers on Domestic Flights

First-class passengers are allowed two pieces of carry-on luggage that do not exceed 5 kilograms (11 pounds) each. Business- and economy-class passengers can bring one piece of carry-on luggage that does not exceed 5 kilograms (11 pounds).

Carry-on luggage exceeding the restrictions for dimensions, weight, and number of pieces needs to be checked.

Checked Luggage

Domestic Airlines

The free checked luggage allowance for passengers holding adult-fare and child-fare tickets is as follows: 40 kilograms per person in first class, 30 kilograms per person in business class, and 20 kilograms per person in economy class. Passengers holding infant-fare tickets are allowed 10 kilograms of checked luggage allowance and a baby stroller for free.

Luggage exceeding the above number of pieces or weight is subject to excess weight charges.

Luggage exceeding 45 kilograms or with dimensions exceeding 100 cm (length) by 60 cm (width) by 40 cm (height) will not be accepted.

International Airlines

Every first-class and business-class passenger is allowed two pieces of luggage with maximum weight of 32 kilograms each without charge. The sum of the height, length, and width of each piece of luggage should not exceed 158 cm.

Economy-class passengers and child passengers with a ticket can check in two pieces of luggage with a maximum weight of 23 kilograms per person for free. The sum of the height, length, and width of each piece of luggage should not exceed 158 cm. Infant passengers with a ticket can check in one piece of luggage for free, as long as the sum of the height, length, and width does not exceed 115 cm, and one baby stroller.

Luggage exceeding the above number of pieces or weight is subject to excess weight charges.

Luggage exceeding 32 kilograms or with dimensions exceeding 100 cm (length) by 60 cm (width) by 40 cm (height) will not be accepted.

IN-FLIGHT FOOD

The in-flight food varies depending on the class in which you sit and your flight time. You are usually served a light snack with a choice of tea, juice, coffee, and water if your flight is not during a mealtime. Fast food is available if your flight time exceeds one hour. You are provided with a meal if you take a flight during a mealtime and your flight exceeds one-and-one-half hours. Vegetarians, religious people, infants, and travelers with other special dietary needs can ask for a special meal when booking (at least 24 hours before departure time). Only selected international flights on Air China provide kosher meals, which need to be reserved at least 48 hours before departure.

Passengers in Forbidden Pavilion First Class and Capital Pavilion Business Class (the top-end classes on Air China) have 18 dishes to choose from.

SPECIAL SERVICE REQUESTS

Passengers Needing Wheelchairs

Passengers who need WCHR (Wheel Chair to Ramp: passenger can ascend/descend steps and make his or her way to/from the cabin seat, but requires a wheelchair for traversing the distance to/from the aircraft) should make a reservation 24 hours before departure time for domestic flights and 48 hours before departure time for international flights.

Passengers who need WCHC (Wheel Chair in Cabin: passenger requires an on-board wheelchair and must be carried to/from cabin seat) should make a reservation 48 hours before departure time for both domestic and international flights.

Passengers who travel with their own wheelchairs need to check their wheelchair before boarding; they can do so free of charge and the wheelchair is not included as a part of the free checked luggage limit.

Pregnant Passengers

Air China has no restrictions on pregnant women in their 32nd week of pregnancy or earlier, unless they are advised by their doctor not to take a flight. Pregnant women who are past their 32nd week of pregnancy but not their 35th week are required to produce a certificate of diagnosis issued by a doctor seven days before departure. Women in their 35th week of pregnancy or after are not allowed to fly.

Phoenix Miles

Phoenix Miles is the first frequent flyer program launched in China by to reward frequent flyers who travel with Air China and its partner airlines.

If you are a member of a frequent flyer program for an airline that is a part of Star Alliance, you also can accrue and use miles when flying with Air China. Show your membership card before you board your flight and your mileage will be credited to your account within two months. If the miles are not credited to your account, contact Air China on their member service hotline or at any of its ticketing offices to have your miles retro-credited to your account. Keep your e-ticket or a photocopy of it, along with your boarding pass, until the miles are confirmed into your account.

Star Alliance Members

• Adria Airlines
• Aegean Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air New Zealand
• ANA
• Asiana
• Austrian
• Blue 1
• bmi
• Brussels Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• EygptAir
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Spanair
• SWISS
• TAM Airlines
• TAP Portugal
• Thai Airways Intl
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• US Airways

Other Air China Partners

• Cathay Pacific Airlines
• Dragonair
• China Airlines
• Mandarin Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic Airways
• ShanDong Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Tibet Airlines