TOPIC

/ company

Air China

Air China is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China. Based in Beijing it is one of the world’s largest airlines in terms of fleet size.

Chairman / President

Wang Mingyuan

CFO / Finance Director

Sun Yuquan

Industry

Airline

Website

airchina.com

Headquarters address

Beijing Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone, Shunyi District, Beijing, China

Stock Code

SEHK:0753

Year founded

1988

Air China appears set to relaunch direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang later this month. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

China-North Korea relations

Air China to resume North Korea flights after 6 years amid warming ties

The revival of tourism is seen as a test of Pyongyang’s willingness to reignite economic ties with Beijing, its largest trading partner.

14 Mar 2026 - 7:02PMvideocam

Cathay Pacific

Swire sells part of Cathay stake for HK$1.8 billion to boost working capital

13 Mar 2026 - 10:52PMvideocam

Aviation

Persian Gulf crisis boosts Chinese airlines’ routes to Europe amid turmoil

4 Mar 2026 - 3:28PM

Middle East

Asia’s travel sector rattled by Iran attacks, fears of ‘domino effect’ slowdown

Airlines are bracing for higher oil prices, continuous flight disruptions and plunging traveller confidence.

2 Mar 2026 - 5:59PMvideocam

A display board at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi shows cancelled flights to Dubai and Doha on Monday, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Photo: Reuters

China energy security

China faces oil squeeze after US-Israel strikes on Iran

Replacing discounted oil supplies from Iran would be a headache for China as Russia is already making up the loss of shipments from Venezuela.

2 Mar 2026 - 5:03PM

China airliners

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

2 Feb 2026 - 6:46PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Beijing issues new Japan travel warning as row over PM’s Taiwan comments drags on

Citizens warned against visiting ahead of Lunar New Year holiday as Chinese airlines extend deadline for refunds or flight changes.

26 Jan 2026 - 8:55PMvideocam

More than 9 million Chinese citizens visited Japan last year. Photo: AFP

Cathay Pacific

Air China’s HK$1.32 billion Cathay stake sale ‘tactical’: Hong Kong carrier CEO

Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam also assures Air China will remain long-term strategic shareholder, as carrier unveils 80th anniversary events.

6 Jan 2026 - 7:50PM

China-EU relations

Airbus scores major win in China with orders for 148 A320 aircraft

The flurry of orders, worth billions of US dollars, marks a big victory for the European aviation firm over US rival Boeing in a key market.

31 Dec 2025 - 9:46PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

China-Japan tension hits holiday travel as flights cancelled on 46 routes

All cancelled flights are operated by Chinese carriers and involve most of the country’s major airlines.

22 Dec 2025 - 9:13PMvideocam

Visitors take photos against the backdrop of Japan’s Mount Fuji. Tensions have been high between China and Japan since November. Photo: AFP

China-Japan relations

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan lose momentum amid tensions: official data

Mainland visitor numbers rose just 3% in November after flight cuts and travel warnings took effect as diplomatic strains escalated.

18 Dec 2025 - 9:14AMvideocam

Mainland Chinese tourists visit Sensoji temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo on Thursday Photo: AP

China consumption

‘A violation’? China’s airlines in the hot seat over hidden extra fees

Seat selection fees are becoming more common in China as airlines grapple with squeezed profit margins, but consumers are pushing back.

13 Dec 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Major Chinese airlines extend full refund offers for Japan flights by 3 months

Largest state-owned carriers including China Southern and Air China continue free refunds or itinerary changes amid diplomatic row.

5 Dec 2025 - 10:45PM

China travel

Chinese airlines cancel flights on 12 Japan routes as tensions continue to rise

The carriers had already received refund requests for hundreds of thousands of flight bookings to Japan amid a growing diplomatic row.

24 Nov 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

A Chinese tour group crosses a street in central Tokyo. China has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines leads way with refunds amid Japan travel alerts

Airlines in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have announced flexible arrangements for Japan-bound flights as tensions simmer in region.

20 Nov 2025 - 7:50PM

Greater Bay Airlines and Cathay Pacific aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong travel firm sees interest in Japan tours drop 20% amid regional tensions

Travel agency CEO says some customers asking to withdraw from Japan, following travel warning by China’s foreign affairs ministry.

19 Nov 2025 - 10:34PM

China-Japan relations

China’s travel warnings for Japan evoke mixed reactions at home

String of official advisories has made some Chinese tourists wary while others are on the lookout for bargain airfares as spat spirals.

17 Nov 2025 - 8:19PMvideocam

China travel

491,000 Japan-bound air tickets cancelled as China warns people to avoid travel

Lost ticket revenue could be in the billions of yuan, analyst says, as carriers brace for short-term capacity shifts if diplomatic tensions fail to ease.

17 Nov 2025 - 5:33PM

An aviation analyst said Shanghai-Tokyo and Shanghai-Osaka flights have been most affected in recent days by cancellations stemming from a diplomatic dispute between China and Japan. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong issues Japan travel warning citing rise in attacks on Chinese citizens

Security Bureau’s move follows Beijing’s travel warning amid escalating row over Taiwan-related comments by Japanese leader.

15 Nov 2025 - 8:06PM

Yuan

China’s yuan added to aviation settlements in boost to internationalisation

The International Air Transport Association is adding the yuan to the basket of currencies available for payments through its clearing house.

6 Nov 2025 - 4:32PM

China travel

‘Work from the air’: Chinese airline offers free Wi-fi to lure back travellers

China’s airlines face growing competition from the country’s high-speed rail network, which many passengers prefer for intercity travel.

19 Oct 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Chinese airlines have begun offering free on-board Wi-fi on domestic routes as they compete with the country’s high-speed rail network for passengers. Photo: Shutterstock

China travel

Battery fire aboard Air China flight to South Korea forces emergency landing

No injuries reported as plane departing Hangzhou for Seoul diverts to Shanghai.

19 Oct 2025 - 6:15PM

A video clip circulating online showed travellers and crew trying to put out a fire in an overhead compartment. Photo: Handout

Cathay Pacific

US, Hong Kong ‘both lose’ if Cathay added to planned Russian airspace ban

Warning from experts follows calls for Cathay to be included in proposed ban on mainland airlines from using Russian airspace to fly to US.

24 Oct 2025 - 5:44PM

US-China trade war

Chinese airlines oppose US plan to stop flights over Russia on way to America

US Department of Transportation says move aims to address ‘competitive disparity’ between American and Chinese carriers.

16 Oct 2025 - 2:43PM

US-China relations

China hits out at US plan to ban Chinese carriers from Russian airspace

Beijing urges US to consider how its policies harm American firms instead of ‘unjustifiably suppressing’ others and burdening global consumers.

10 Oct 2025 - 8:17PMvideocam

An Air China flight prepares for take-off at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. The proposed Russian overflight ban could affect some US routes operated by Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines and China Southern. Photo: Shutterstock

US-China relations

Trump admin proposes barring Chinese airlines flying over Russia on US flights

US airlines have long complained that this gives Chinese carriers the advantage of decreased flying time and lower fuel consumption.

10 Oct 2025 - 4:52PMvideocam

A woman watches plane take off at the airport. Photo: Shutterstock

China’s C919 passenger plane

With China’s C919 jet facing order delays, is Boeing waiting in the wings?

C919 engine supply issues, mutual desire for trade breakthrough may lead Chinese airlines to buy planes from US giant, analysts said.

3 Oct 2025 - 11:00PMvideocam

China’s C919 passenger plane

Orders of China’s C919 jet could face delays over engine supply snags

Financial reports from China’s top airlines suggest deliveries of home-grown plane could come late – potentially caused by US engine controls.

29 Sep 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

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Air China

Air China to resume North Korea flights after 6 years amid warming ties

The revival of tourism is seen as a test of Pyongyang’s willingness to reignite economic ties with Beijing, its largest trading partner.

Swire sells part of Cathay stake for HK$1.8 billion to boost working capital

Persian Gulf crisis boosts Chinese airlines’ routes to Europe amid turmoil

Asia’s travel sector rattled by Iran attacks, fears of ‘domino effect’ slowdown

Airlines are bracing for higher oil prices, continuous flight disruptions and plunging traveller confidence.

China faces oil squeeze after US-Israel strikes on Iran

Replacing discounted oil supplies from Iran would be a headache for China as Russia is already making up the loss of shipments from Venezuela.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say

Maker of the home-grown rival to Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 is working directly with regulators, which analysts said could speed up certification.

Beijing issues new Japan travel warning as row over PM’s Taiwan comments drags on

Citizens warned against visiting ahead of Lunar New Year holiday as Chinese airlines extend deadline for refunds or flight changes.

Air China’s HK$1.32 billion Cathay stake sale ‘tactical’: Hong Kong carrier CEO

Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam also assures Air China will remain long-term strategic shareholder, as carrier unveils 80th anniversary events.

Airbus scores major win in China with orders for 148 A320 aircraft

The flurry of orders, worth billions of US dollars, marks a big victory for the European aviation firm over US rival Boeing in a key market.

China-Japan tension hits holiday travel as flights cancelled on 46 routes

All cancelled flights are operated by Chinese carriers and involve most of the country’s major airlines.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Japan lose momentum amid tensions: official data

Mainland visitor numbers rose just 3% in November after flight cuts and travel warnings took effect as diplomatic strains escalated.

‘A violation’? China’s airlines in the hot seat over hidden extra fees

Seat selection fees are becoming more common in China as airlines grapple with squeezed profit margins, but consumers are pushing back.

Major Chinese airlines extend full refund offers for Japan flights by 3 months

Largest state-owned carriers including China Southern and Air China continue free refunds or itinerary changes amid diplomatic row.

Chinese airlines cancel flights on 12 Japan routes as tensions continue to rise

The carriers had already received refund requests for hundreds of thousands of flight bookings to Japan amid a growing diplomatic row.

Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines leads way with refunds amid Japan travel alerts

Airlines in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have announced flexible arrangements for Japan-bound flights as tensions simmer in region.

Hong Kong travel firm sees interest in Japan tours drop 20% amid regional tensions

Travel agency CEO says some customers asking to withdraw from Japan, following travel warning by China’s foreign affairs ministry.

China’s travel warnings for Japan evoke mixed reactions at home

String of official advisories has made some Chinese tourists wary while others are on the lookout for bargain airfares as spat spirals.

491,000 Japan-bound air tickets cancelled as China warns people to avoid travel

Lost ticket revenue could be in the billions of yuan, analyst says, as carriers brace for short-term capacity shifts if diplomatic tensions fail to ease.

Hong Kong issues Japan travel warning citing rise in attacks on Chinese citizens

Security Bureau’s move follows Beijing’s travel warning amid escalating row over Taiwan-related comments by Japanese leader.

China’s yuan added to aviation settlements in boost to internationalisation

The International Air Transport Association is adding the yuan to the basket of currencies available for payments through its clearing house.

‘Work from the air’: Chinese airline offers free Wi-fi to lure back travellers

China’s airlines face growing competition from the country’s high-speed rail network, which many passengers prefer for intercity travel.

Battery fire aboard Air China flight to South Korea forces emergency landing

No injuries reported as plane departing Hangzhou for Seoul diverts to Shanghai.

US, Hong Kong ‘both lose’ if Cathay added to planned Russian airspace ban

Warning from experts follows calls for Cathay to be included in proposed ban on mainland airlines from using Russian airspace to fly to US.

Chinese airlines oppose US plan to stop flights over Russia on way to America

US Department of Transportation says move aims to address ‘competitive disparity’ between American and Chinese carriers.

China hits out at US plan to ban Chinese carriers from Russian airspace

Beijing urges US to consider how its policies harm American firms instead of ‘unjustifiably suppressing’ others and burdening global consumers.

Trump admin proposes barring Chinese airlines flying over Russia on US flights

US airlines have long complained that this gives Chinese carriers the advantage of decreased flying time and lower fuel consumption.

With China’s C919 jet facing order delays, is Boeing waiting in the wings?

C919 engine supply issues, mutual desire for trade breakthrough may lead Chinese airlines to buy planes from US giant, analysts said.

Orders of China’s C919 jet could face delays over engine supply snags

Financial reports from China’s top airlines suggest deliveries of home-grown plane could come late – potentially caused by US engine controls.

Exclusive | China’s widebody C929 may take off ahead of schedule, sources say