Mumbai06 Dec 22 1 Traveller Economy
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About China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited or famously called China Eastern is a Chinese airline which has its headquarters located in China Eastern Airlines Building, within the premise of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changing District in Shanghai. The airline is one of the top three in China with operations to a slew of domestic routes, international routes and a handful of regional routes too. China Eastern Airlines is the second-largest airline in the country with respect to the number of passengers carried. The airline follows China Southern Airlines as a top airline in China. China Eastern Airlines is a subsidiary of Shanghai Airlines which became the 14th airline to join the SkyTeam airline alliance, in 2011. The airline's parent company is China Eastern Air Holding Company. It was founded in 1988 by the Civil Aviation Administration of China Huadong Administration. Following the unprofitable China General Aviation in 1997, China Eastern Airlines took over the operations and put up the company shares for grabs on the international market, making it the first in the country.
In 2001, the airline wholly acquired a few airlines such as Great Wall Airlines, China Northwest Airlines and China Yunnan Airlines under its wing to form the China Eastern Airlines in 2003 eventually. The government of China holds a massive stake in the airline with a whopping 61.64 per cent of shares while the other shares are owned publicly. In 2006, the airline received more attention from foreign investors as a report of Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and Emirates eyeing to invest in China Eastern Airlines were confirmed. A final agreement regarding the same was signed in 2007, and a combined 24 per cent of shares were purchased with Singapore Airlines holding 15.73 per cent and Temasek Holdings to acquire 8.27 per cent of shares. Although Cathay Pacific did plan on quashing Singapore Airlines' expansion plans in China but eventually, they opted out of it. In 2009, China Eastern Airlines announced that they would be merging with Shanghai Airlines. One of the main reasons for this move was to reduce the excess competition prevalent in the zone and at the same time, to consolidate Shanghai's status as an international hub in China.
While retaining its brand name and livery, Shanghai Airlines became a wholly-owned and operated subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines in 2010. Later the same year, China Eastern Airlines also acquired China United Airlines to enhance its expansion plans. A joint consortium between China Eastern Airlines and Qantas Group to commence a new low-cost airline, Jetstar Hong Kong, with a base at Hong Kong International Airport was proposed. However, following some issues including a rejection from the Hong Kong authority to issue an operating license, the plan didn't take off. In 2012, the airline received the title accolade Gold Ting Award, at the China Capital Market Annual Conference 2012 as one of the most valuable Chinese brands. It was also acknowledged in the top ten rankings of FORTUNE China in 2013. In 2020, the airline introduced OTT Airlines (One Two Three Airlines) as a subsidiary with a view to operating domestic-manufactured aircraft, including Comac C919 and Comic ARJ21, specifically in the Yangtze Delta region, along with business jet operations.
Fleet size of China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines' current fleet size is a whopping 566 with 150 more aircraft that are in order. As one of the major airlines in China, China Eastern Airlines holds an abundant fleet to ensure that the operations for both international routes and domestic routes are conducted without any hassle. The airline presently holds a fleet that comprises of Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A350-900, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9, Comac C919 and Comac ARJ21-700. It was the first Chinese airline to order for an Airbus, a European aircraft-manufacturing enterprise. China Eastern Airlines' most important aircraft are all variants from the Airbus family with special emphasis on the services of the A320 series. They are predominantly used for domestic route services. In 2005, the airline announced that it would be placing an order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. However, they cancelled the order, owing to the continuous and massive delays faced. Instead, they swapped the 787 order to Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. In 2011, the airline placed an order for fifteen Airbus A330s while in 2012, they placed an order for 20 Boeing 777-300ERs. China Eastern Airlines received its first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in 2014.
Baggage Allowance
China Eastern Airlines has 'free checked baggage along with ticket' type of baggage allowance model. The airline basically reserves a specific number of baggage allowance along with the ticket for passengers. This varies depending on the domestic route and international route transit of passengers. According to the airline, passengers who are travelling from the regional and domestic routes are allowed to carry a baggage weight of up to 40 kg. Meanwhile, the baggage allowance for business class and economy class stands at 30 kg and 20 kg respectively. With respect to the baggage piece concept, China Eastern Airlines allows passengers flying from first class to carry around three bags which can weigh no more than 32 kg each. As for the business class, super economy class and economy class, the airline allows passengers to carry two pieces of baggage that should not weigh more than 32 kg. Additional baggage can be purchased at the airport's check-in counter or on their official website. The added tariff is usually levied depending on the extra weight per kg.
In-flight services
China Eastern Airlines, with its illustrious fleet, has ensured to provide the best of in-flight services to its passengers. In fact, they have made some significant upgrades with their seats and in-flight services and facilities. Not just that the seats are comfortable but even other services such as impeccable in-flight meals, amenities like personalised entertainment systems, provision of pillows, toiletry kits, earplugs, eye masks and more, have made it quite the memorable experience for passengers.
Popular routes and top cities for China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines holds a prominent presence in the continents of Asia, North America and Australia. With an increase in its flight frequencies from Shanghai, the airline has managed to become the household name for all domestic route connectivity. Further, they plan to enhance their reach in the international route destinations too by increasing flight frequencies. In 2016, the airline launched non-stop direct routes flights to destinations such as Prague, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam and Madrid, from Shanghai. The domestic route destinations that China Eastern Airlines covers are Altay, Anqing, Baise, Baoshan, Bangkok, Baotou, Bole, Changchun, Changzhou, Chengdu, Chifeng, Changde, Dailan, Daqing, Dazhou, Enshi, Fukuoka, Guilin, Hangzhou, Jinan, Karamay, Korla, Lanzhou, Liuzhou, Mangshi, Nanchang, Ningbo, Quanzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen, Shiyan, Tangshan, Turpan, Wuhanm Wuxi, Xi'an, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou and Zhuhai, to name a few. As for international routes, some of the top cities that China Eastern Airlines operates in include Auckland, Bangkok, Chicago, Clark, Colombo, Delhi, Denpasar, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Jeju, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Moscow, Nagoya, New York City, Ngari, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Vancouver, Toronto and Yangon, and more.
Why travel by China Eastern Airlines?
China Eastern Airlines is the perfect and ideal airline to pick if a traveller needs to explore the domestic route destinations of China. The airline has expanded its domestic routes tremendously in the past few years and even acquired a series of competitors to ensure that they have a certain quasi-monopoly in the market. This has only extended its domestic route wing to be more attractive and convenient for travellers. Further, they have also extended much of their international routes with the severe competition with Singapore Airlines and even Cathay Pacific. Unfazed by any of the challenges, the airline has worked towards adding more destinations that would get them more passengers.
While the connectivity of China Eastern Airlines is worth mentioning, their fleet is just as amazing. China Eastern Airlines has ensured to provide the best services to its customers, and they are utilising their strong fleet with upgraded facilities for the same. This has enhanced China Eastern Airlines' in-flight services and other facilities too.
Adding to its perks, the airline has also brought in better services with respect to the administration-related chores. China Eastern Airlines has introduced web check-in services along with flight status updates on the website. Along with this, China Eastern Airlines' flight schedules have also been shared on its website. Passengers can receive an updated list on their website as well as the mobile app. Further, travellers can also book a China Eastern Airlines flight ticket online as they have a presence on all travel portals and their website. The airline has ensured to share baggage allowance details once the flight ticket has been booked as it will help them plan accordingly. With such good upgrades, China Eastern Airlines easily becomes the best airline to opt for, especially when travelling to China.
