Hainan Airlines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hainan Airlines
海南航空

Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9
Founded	October 1989; 35 years ago (1989-10)
Hubs	Beijing–Capital Chongqing Haikou Shenzhen Xi'an
Focus cities	Changsha Guangzhou Lanzhou Sanya Taiyuan Ürümqi
Frequent-flyer program	Fortune Wings Club
Subsidiaries	Air Changan (83.03%) Beijing Capital Airlines (70%) Fuzhou Airlines (60%) Grand China Air Hong Kong Airlines Lucky Air (86.68%) Tianjin Airlines Urumqi Air (70%)
Fleet size	224
Destinations	120
Parent company	Fangda Group HNA Aviation Group
Headquarters	Haikou, Hainan, China
Key people	Zhu Tao (chairman)

Hainan Airlines is a major airline based in Haikou, China. It is one of the biggest airlines in China. It is also one of the largest in Asia based on how many passengers it carries. Hainan Airlines flies to over 120 places. These include cities in China and other countries. Its main base is Haikou Meilan International Airport. It also has other important hubs in cities like Beijing, Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Xi'an.

History of Hainan Airlines

How the Airline Started

Hainan Airlines began in October 1989. It was first called Hainan Province Airlines. It started in Hainan, which is a special economic zone in China. In January 1993, it became China's first airline owned by many different shareholders. It started flying regular flights on May 2, 1993. The airline changed its name to Hainan Airlines in 1996.

An American company, controlled by George Soros, became a big owner in 1995. In April 1995, the airline started offering private jet flights. By 1998, Hainan Airlines was the first Chinese airline to own part of an airport. It bought 25% of Haikou Meilan International Airport.

Growing Bigger in the 2000s

A former Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

In 2000, a new group called HNA Group was formed. It became a major owner of Hainan Airlines. This group also took control of other airlines. By 2003, Hainan Airlines became the fourth largest airline in China.

In 2005, HNA Group ordered 42 Boeing 787-8 planes. Ten of these were for Hainan Airlines. The airline also ordered many Boeing 737-800 planes. In 2007, Hainan Airlines added Airbus A330-200 planes to its fleet. It also ordered Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

Hainan Airlines also ordered many smaller planes from Embraer. These included 50-seat ERJ-145s and 50 E-190s. Some of these planes were made in China. In 2015, the airline decided to buy 30 more Boeing 787-9 planes. These planes were delivered by 2021. Hainan Airlines will also be one of the first airlines to use the new Comac C919 planes.

Changes and Restructuring

In 2021, Hainan Airlines' parent company, HNA Group, went through a big change. This was to help manage its finances. A new company, Liaoning Fangda Group Industrial, invested in the airline. This helped Hainan Airlines continue its operations.

Airline Operations

Main Offices

The HNA Building, Hainan Airlines' headquarters in Haikou.

Hainan Airlines has its main office in the HNA Building in Haikou, Hainan. They also have offices in other big cities. These include Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.

Where Hainan Airlines Flies

Hainan Airlines has seven main bases across China. These include Beijing–Capital and Guangzhou. They fly to almost 500 routes. These routes connect China to Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. They fly to over 90 cities around the world.

Hainan Airlines flies to many international places. For example, they have flights from Beijing to Toronto, Berlin, Brussels, and Boston. They also fly to cities like Manchester in the UK and Calgary in Canada. In 2018, they started flights from Changsha to London Heathrow. They also added flights from Beijing to Dublin and Edinburgh.

Partner Airlines

Hainan Airlines works with other airlines. This is called a codeshare agreement. It means you can book a flight with Hainan Airlines, but fly on a plane operated by a partner airline. This helps passengers travel to more places.

Here are some of their partner airlines:

Hainan Airlines Fleet

Current Aircraft

A Hainan Airlines Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

A Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

A Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

As of August 2025, Hainan Airlines uses these types of planes:

Past Aircraft Used

Hainan Airlines has used these planes in the past:

Cabin Classes

Business Class Features

The business class cabin on a Hainan Airlines Airbus A330 plane.

Business class is available on all Hainan Airlines planes. The seats are very comfortable. On some planes, like the Airbus A330-300, the seats can lie completely flat. This turns them into a bed almost 2 meters long. These seats often have large touchscreens for entertainment. They also come with noise-reducing headphones. Newer Boeing 787-9 planes have special "Dream Feather" cabin designs. These designs offer even more comfortable seats.

Premium Economy Class Features

Premium economy is a special class on newer Boeing 787-9 planes. It offers more space than economy class. The seats are designed for comfort. They have a good recline and a large screen for movies. You can also charge your devices with a USB port. This class has its own separate area on the plane.

Economy Class Features

The economy class cabin on a Hainan Airlines Airbus A330 plane.

Economy class is on all Hainan Airlines planes. For long flights, the seats have enough space. They also have personal entertainment screens. On newer planes, you can find USB ports to charge your phone or tablet.

Passenger Services

Airport Lounges

Hainan Airlines has its own special airport lounges. These are places where passengers can relax before their flight. They are located at major airports. These include Beijing, Haikou, and Xi'an. Soon, they will open a new international lounge in Beijing.

Frequent-Flyer Program

Hainan Airlines has a program for frequent flyers. It is called Fortune Wings Club. Members can earn points or "miles" when they fly. They can also earn miles by using the airline's credit card. These miles can be used for free flights or upgrades. The program has different levels like Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Higher levels give members extra services. Several other airlines are also part of this program.

Awards and Recognition

Hainan Airlines is known for its high quality. It is one of only ten airlines in the world to be rated five-star by Skytrax. Skytrax is a company that reviews airlines.

In June 2019, Hainan Airlines was ranked among the top 10 airlines worldwide. They also won awards for being the "Best Airline in China." They were recognized for their business class amenities. Their staff and cabin cleanliness also received awards. In June 2024, Skytrax again named Hainan Airlines the Best Airline in China.

See also

In Spanish: Hainan Airlines para niños

• Transport in China