Hainan Airlines was established in October 1989 as Hainan Province Airlines in Hainan, the largest special economic zone in China. Hainan Province Airlines became China's first joint-stock air-transport company following a restructuring in January 1993 and began scheduled services on 2 May 1993. The initial 250 million yuan (US$31.25 million) was financed by the Hainan government (5.33%) and the corporate staff (20%). The rest came from institutional shareholders.[9] In 1996, the provincial airline was renamed to Hainan Airlines.
American Aviation LLC, controlled by George Soros, had been a major shareholder of the airline since 1995.[10]
On 4 December 2007, Hainan Airlines acquired three Airbus A340-600s on lease from International Lease Finance Corporation. On 14 November 2007, Hainan Airlines received its first Airbus A330-200. In June 2007, Hainan Airlines ordered 13 Airbus A320-200 aircraft. In late 2007, Hainan Airlines ordered 50 Embraer ERJ-145s and 50 Embraer 190s, with a total value (at list price) of US$2.7 billion. The 50-seat ERJ-145s were produced by the Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry (HEAI) joint venture, located in Harbin. E-190 deliveries began in December 2007. Due to the global financial crisis and huge losses incurred in 2008, the ERJ-145 order was reduced to 25. The E-190 order remained unchanged.
On 25 March 2015, Hainan Airlines announced its intention to acquire 30 Boeing 787-9s, which are all to join the Hainan Airlines Fleet. The delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for completion by 2021.[13] Two leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft were delivered in the spring of 2016.[14][15] Hainan Airlines will also be among the first operators of the Comac C919, with deliveries beginning in the 2020s.
Bankruptcy and restructuring
Hainan Airlines's parent company HNA Group announced on 19 January 2021 that it had entered bankruptcy restructuring after a government-led exercise to work out its debt failed to produce enough money to repay bondholders and creditors.[16] As of 24 September 2021, HNA Group was broken into four components, one of which is the airline component, due to the bankruptcy court order.[17]Liaoning Fangda Group Industrial, a conglomerate with business in the carbon, steel, and pharmaceuticals industries, will invest in the airline component.[17]
Corporate affairs
Offices
Hainan Airlines and the HNA Group have their headquarters in the HNA Building (simplified Chinese: 新海航大厦; traditional Chinese: 新海航大廈; pinyin: Xīn Hǎiháng Dàshà),[18][19] in Haikou, Hainan.[20] With other office premises, HNA Tower, in focused cities including Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. It was previously headquartered in the HNA Development Building also known as the Haihang Development Building (海航发展大厦; 海航發展大廈; Hǎiháng Fāzhǎn Dàshà) along Haixiu Road in Haikou.[21][22][23]
Shareholders
As of 31 December 2016[update], the Hainan provincial government owns 53.67% of Hainan Airlines' shares through Grand China Air Holding Company, which is controlled by the investment arm of the Hainan government.[5]Grand China Air is the direct parent company of Hainan Airlines (24.33% shares directly; an additional 1.29% shares via a subsidiary American Aviation LDC),[24] which was partially owned by Hainan Development Holdings (24.97%), HNA Group (23.11%), Starstep (9.57%), Haikou Meilan International Airport (8.30%), Shenhua Group (5.56%) and other shareholders (As of 30 June 2016[update]).[25] HNA Group owned 3.53% shares directly and via Changjiang Leasing, owned an additional 3.08% shares as the second largest shareholder.[24] Haikou Meilan International Airport was the third largest shareholder for 5.13% shares.[24] Moreover, HNA Group also owned Haikou Meilan International Airport partially, as well as Hainan Airlines as cross ownership. A private equity fund that was managed by Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, owned 4.91% shares as the fourth largest shareholder.[24]
As of January 2017, Hainan Airlines operates seven bases across China: Beijing–Capital, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen and Xi'an.[26] It operates an extensive network across the People's Republic of China, connecting Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania and serves nearly 500 domestic and international routes, flying to more than 90 cities.
Hainan operates regular international flights and offers charter flights to 51 destinations in 28 countries such as flights from Beijing to Almaty, Toronto, Berlin, Brussels, Seattle/Tacoma, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tel Aviv, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Jose, California, and Boston; Beijing, Xi'an, Dalian, Guangzhou, Haikou to Taipei; Beijing, Haikou, Nanning to Bangkok; Hefei via Haikou to Singapore and others.[27] Hainan also received official approval from the US DOT to begin non-stop flights between Beijing and Chicago. As of June 2014, Hainan began servicing Boston directly with a four-times-weekly 787 flight from Beijing Capital International Airport. It was the first direct flight between Boston and China.[28] The airline began service in the second quarter of 2013 with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and was the first Chinese carrier to offer flights between the two cities. Flights from Beijing-Capital to Chicago-O'Hare began on 3 September 2013.[29][30]
On 23 October 2015, Hainan announced flights to Manchester, United Kingdom, starting in summer 2016.[31] Hainan announced the launch of a direct route between Beijing and Calgary, Canada, as of 30 June 2016.[32] During the second half of 2017, Hainan Airlines began flights from Shanghai to Tel Aviv and restarted flights from Shanghai to Brussels.[33] In late September 2017 Hainan Airlines commenced direct flights to and from Brisbane, Australia, several times a week, and also to Belgrade, Serbia, via Prague, every Monday and Friday. On 8 March 2018, Hainan Airlines announced flights between Changsha and London Heathrow, commencing 23 March 2018.[34] On 15 March 2018, they announced round trip flights between Beijing–Capital, Dublin, and Edinburgh commencing 12 June 2018.[35] In mid-October 2018, flights from Shenzhen to Vienna were launched. A non-stop route to Belgrade, Serbia was launched on 16 July 2022.[36]
Business class is available on all Hainan Airlines aircraft. Business class on the Airbus A330-200 is configured in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats has a 74-inch seat pitch and a 10.6-inch personal entertainment system.[47] Business class on the Airbus A330-300 features a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are in a reversed herringbone layout with a seat pitch of 45-inches. The seats can recline up to 180 degrees and is nearly 2 meters long when converted into a bed. The seats feature a Thales AVANT 15.4-inch touchscreens with touch handle.[48] The Airbus A350 business class seats are configured in a 1-2-1 layout with 27.5-inch wide seats and 76-inch long beds when fully reclined. The seats feature the Panasonic EX3 system with a 16-inch 1080P HD touch screen/remote control entertainment system.[49] On the Boeing 787-8 and older Boeing 787-9s, business class features a 2-2-2 configuration and has a seat pitch between 73 and 80-inches. The seats feature a 16-inch touchscreen entertainment system equipped with BOSE noise-reducing head sets.[50] Newer Boeing 787-9s equipped with the “Dream Feather” cabin design has business class seats similar to those on the Airbus A330-300s. The seats however feature increased seat pitch and improved seat fabrics and decor.[51]
Premium Economy
Premium economy is only available on newer Boeing 787-9 aircraft with the “Dream Feather” cabin design. The seats are designed by Collins MiQ and feature a seven-inch recline, 38-inch seat pitch and a four-way adjustable head rest. The seats also feature a Panasonic EX3 Entertainment System and a 13 inch 1080p HD screen, as well as a USB Charing port, tablet stand and a footrest. Premium economy class seats are located in a separate cabin from the economy class seats.[52]
Economy Class
Economy class is featured on all Hainan Airlines aircraft. Seats on long haul flights have a seat pitch of 32 inches as well as a 9-12 inch personal entertainment screen. USB ports are also available on newer aircraft.[53]
Services
Lounges
Hainan Airlines operates several self-owned airport lounges at its main hub and focus cities including Beijing (T1 HNA Exclusive Terminal), Haikou, Xi'an, Guangzhou, and Urumqi. In addition, the airline will soon open its exclusive international departure lounge at its main international hub Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2. The airline also operates an exclusive Transit Lounge for transferring HNA Group passengers at Beijing Airport Non-restricted area.
In June 2019 they were ranked #7 in the Skytrax World's Top 10 Airlines of 2019 ratings[57] and were winners in the following additional categories: Best Airline in China: World's Best Business Class Amenities, Best Airline Staff in China, Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in China, and Best Cabin Crew in China.[58]
Award and recognition
On 24 June 2024, Hainan Airlines was voted 2024Best Airline in China by Skytrax.[59]
^金鹏会员手册简易版(PDF) (in Chinese (China)). Hainan Airlines. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2012. 地址:海南省海口市国兴大道新海航大厦 邮编:570000 Address: New Haihang Bldg Guoxing Road, Haikou, Hainan, 570000, PR China
^"Contact Us." Hainan Airlines. Retrieved on 3 October 2009. "HNA Development Building, 29 Haixiu Road, Hainan, 570206, P.R. China"
^"Contacts." (Archive) Hainan Airlines. Retrieved on 26 August 2012. "Address: Haihang Development Building, No.29 Haixiu Road, Haikou, Hainan Province, PRC. 570206"
^海南航空股份有限公司 600221 2010 年半年度报告(PDF) (in Chinese (China)). Hainan Airlines. August 2010. p. 1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012. 海南省海口市海秀路29 号海航发展大厦
^ abcd"2016 Annual Report"(PDF). Hainan Airlines (in Chinese). Shanghai Stock Exchange. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
^简式权益变动报告书(PDF). Hainan Airlines (in Chinese). Shanghai Stock Exchange. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2017.