Shandong Airlines Airlines

  About Shandong Airlines

Shandong Airlines Co. Ltd. is a Chinese airline based out of Shandong Airlines Centre in Jinan, in the eastern coastal province of Shandong. The airline is known to operate a slew of domestic routes across China. Shandong Airlines caters from Chinese cities such as Yantai, Jinan and Qingdao to major destinations within Mainland China. Along with its strong domestic route network, Shandong Airlines also caters to a slew of international routes that are prevalent in the Asian continent. The airline has Shandong Aviation Group and Air China as largest shareholders with a stake of 42 per cent and 22.8 per cent respectively. Air China has been roped in to be part of Shandong Airlines as a strategic partner. The airline basically helps Shandong Airlines with all flight and carrier related operations. The airline came into existence in 1994 with operations starting later in the same year. By 1997, Shandong Airlines became one of the founding members of the New Star (Xinxing) Aviation Alliance, along with five other provincial airlines from China. The aim of the alliance was to ensure that the finances of the airlines are improved, and the eventual takeovers by prominent competitors do not take place.

Although it started as a domestic airline with more services within the Chinese provinces, it started its international services in 2004 by connecting its hub Jinan to Singapore. Shandong Airlines has since managed to expand its wings to accommodate more flight operations in its international and domestic routes. In fact, the airline has also maintained a strong record of being the safest flight in the country for 25 consecutive years now. The airline has been a recipient of various accolades, including the Golden Goose Cup and Golden Eagle Cup. These are the highest honorary accolades that are usually given by the General Administration of Civil Aviation. The airline also received recognition as the Four-Star Flight Safety Award was given to it by the China Civil Aviation. By 2019, the airline recorded a safe flight and transport of about 215 million passengers. Presently, Shandong Airlines operates in nearly 230 domestic routes, international routes and regional routes. In fact, the airline operates about 4,300 flights on a weekly basis which cater to several major cities as well as small towns. As part of its expansion plans, the airline has further managed to extend its international routes to accommodate countries namely Thailand, Taiwan, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Cambodia, to name a few.

Further, as the airline's stance in the industry has seen significant prominence, it has worked towards developing its fleet and improving its services. As an airline that has been celebrated for being the safest, Shandong Airlines has worked towards improving the quality of its flights, management, operations, in-flight services and more. The airline also received the National Quality Award by the China Quality Association. It has managed to become a big brand that is indispensable to China's aviation industry. Along with flight operations, Shandong Airlines has also invested much of its time and resources to promote economic and social progress and development of the Shandong Province. They have often been associated with various social undertakings such as funding for development projects, mitigating poverty, enhancing development work and to further upscale the social welfare projects undertaken by the airlines. It has been reported that the airline has invested a whopping RMB 16.5 million in aid funds and about 70 million yuan in social funds to support the alleviation of paucity. In fact, they also undertook select few villages and changed their economic standing.

Shandong Airlines has often joined hands with the Shandong Provincial government to help with various social undertakings. The airline has consistently shown profits and has also expanded in a very short period of time. It is not just an airline that caters to flight operations but is also an agency that works towards social upliftment.

Fleet size of Shandong Airlines

As of 2020, Shandong Airlines' fleet size stands at 126 with a few more aircraft orders pending. The airline predominantly uses aircraft from the Boeing family. It comprises three Boeing 737-700s, 115 Boeing 737-800s and eight Boeing 737 MAX 8s. Further, the airline has also ordered for additional 26 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and about ten COMAC ARJ21-700. Comac is actually a jet manufacturing company that is owned and operated by the Chinese government. The aircraft manufacturing company has been provided with a majority of Chinese airlines with the aircraft to cater to their domestic routes and regional route operations. In the past, Shandong Airlines did accommodate a mixed fleet that also had Boeing 737-300s, Boeing 737-800s, Bombardier CRJ200s, Bombardier CRJ700s and Saab 340Bs. Their Boeing 737-800s recently retired, owing to which the airline ordered for more. Meanwhile, Shandong Airlines has not replenished its Bombardier aircraft that also retired a decade ago. Instead, they have incorporated aircraft manufactured by the Chinese company to enhance its market reach.

Baggage Allowance

Shandong Airlines' baggage allowance policies are quite extensive and diverse with several intricate clauses that passengers need to follow. They are extremely strict when it comes to the baggage allowance policies and whether the passenger is following the same. Since Shandong Airlines is partly owned by Air China too, much of the benefits in terms of baggage allowance can be availed by passengers who are members of Air China's frequent flyer programmes. As for the regular traveller, the maximum free baggage allowance that the airline allows per ticket is 40 kg for first-class travellers, 30 kg for business class passengers and 20 kg for economy class passengers. Passengers who have an infant ticket for domestic flights can carry up to 10 kg baggage per piece. First-class and business class passengers are allowed to carry two pieces of checked baggage, while economy class passengers can carry only one checked baggage. The weight should not exceed as allocated for different cabin classes. Along with the weight, the dimensions of the luggage should not exceed a total of 158 cm.

In-flight services

Shandong Airlines may be known for its slew of domestic route connectivity and immaculate safety protocols, but the airline also offers the best in-flight services for a regional airline. Passengers can avail the best of Shandong Airlines' in-flight services which include comfortable seats with decent reclines, plush leather to add to the comfort, exquisite in-flight meals and even personalised entertainment systems. These are only available for international route flights.

Popular routes and top cities for Shandong Airlines

Shandong Airlines celebrates a good base in China as one of the top airlines to cater to domestic routes. Over the years, they have expanded their reach within Mainland China to form a reputation and goodwill among customers. Shandong Airlines' domestic route connectivity is what makes it one of the best airlines in the country. The airline operates in a slew of Chinese cities and connects several provinces too. Some of the top cities for Shandong Airlines are Beijing, Changchun, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Guilin, Haikou, Harbin, Hohhot, Karamay, Jinan, Kashgar, Kunming, Lanzhou, Linyi, Nanjing, Ningbo, Quzhou, Shanghai, Nanchang, Nanning, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Xi'an, Xiamen, Yantai, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou and Zhuhai, to name a few. For its regional and international routes, Shandong Airlines has great connectivity with operations in the neighbouring countries such as India, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. Top cities for Shandong Airlines from these countries are Delhi, Tokyo, (Haneda and Narita), Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Phuket, Taichung, Chiang Mai and Phnom Penh.

Why travel by Shandong Airlines?

Shandong Airlines has turned into one of the best airlines in China thanks to its high safety level and quality management. Passengers can rest assured that the airline would carry a smooth transit with no discomfort onboard and the anxiety of being over 20,000 miles up in the air. Shandong Airlines has a reputation of being the safest airline to travel from in China. With literally zero accident cases and or in-haul technical concerns, Shandong Airlines has proven that they only provide the best services and facilities to their passengers.

The airline also has one of the best domestic route connectivity among other Chinese airlines. As it is predominantly a domestic airline with regional operations, the airline has, in time, gathered several destinations across the Chinese and even Southeast Asian destinations for operations. While their connectivity is worth boasting about, their services are just as exemplary.

On the airline's official website, they have incorporated some latest facilities such as web check-ins and flight status that passengers can avail. It is easy to book a Shandong Airlines flight ticket on their website as the interface is very user-friendly. Not to mention how the website also has provisions and an updated list of Shandong Airlines' flight schedules. As you book your ticket, the airline would provide you with all the necessary information regarding the baggage allowance, the in-flight services, the free facilities, airport lounge accessibility (if any) and more. It is practically perfect for passengers.