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"Sichuan Airlines"

Sichuan Airlines Receives 200th Aircraft

by Jamie Clarke July 14, 2024

written by Jamie Clarke

July 9 saw Chinese operator, Sichuan Airlines celebrate receiving its 200th aircraft and its next aircraft from CDB Aviation.

This article will cover the details surrounding Sichuan receiving its 200th aircraft and its next from long-standing partner, CDB Aviation.

Sichuan Airlines’ 200th Aircraft

Photo Credit: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This week, CDB Aviation celebrated the delivery of its next aircraft with Chinese operator, Sichuan Airlines. This aircraft is also the carrier’s 200th aircraft.

The aircraft in question is B-32GX, an Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter (P2F). Which was delivered to the carrier at a ceremony held Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU). This also marks the carriers second Airbus A330 P2F in its fleet.

The Chinese operators fleet currently consists of –

23 Airbus A319s.
55 Airbus A320s.
27 Airbus A320neos.
44 Airbus A321s.
27 Airbus A321neos.
3 Airbus A330 Freighters.
4 Airbus A330-200s.
2 Airbus A330-300 P2Fs.
7 Airbus A330-300s.
8 Airbus A350-900s.

Senior Comments

CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer, Jie Chen, has said. “We are thrilled to be joining our partners at Sichuan Airlines in celebrating this significant 200^th aircraft milestone in the airline’s impressive regional and international growth story.”

“CDB Aviation congratulates the Sichuan Airlines team on achieving their leading position among airlines in Western China and its growing role as an international airline in both the passenger and cargo markets.”

“CDB Aviation values our strong and long-standing relationship with Sichuan Airlines, and we are grateful for the confidence the airline has placed in our international leasing platform. We look forward to supporting Sichuan Airlines’ future growth.”

Chairman of Sichuan Airlines, Zuyi Shi adds. “We are very happy to strengthen on our relationship with CDB Aviation and appreciate Jie Chen and his team for their continued hard work in bringing the second A330 P2F aircraft to Sichuan Airlines.”

“The aircraft is a superb addition to our cargo fleet, providing us with more widebody freighter capacity and enhancing our operational capabilities to meet the rapidly expanded market demand. This will further ensure our airlines’ sustainable growth in the long term.”

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July 14, 2024 0 comment

Airline

Sichuan Airlines Returns to Auckland: Boosted China Links

by James Field April 19, 2024

written by James Field

Sichuan Airlines has this week made a return to Auckland, in a further boost to links to China for the Kiwi airport.

The flights, which come from Chengdu, are a big welcome for the airfield, and bolsters international connections.

Without further ado, let’s get into it…

The Return of Chengdu-Auckland Flights…

N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia via Wikimedia Commons.

The first flight between Chengdu and Auckland with Sichuan Airlines operated on April 17.

It is understood this route will be serviced on a once-weekly basis by the airline.

Commenting on the milestone was Scott Tasker, the Chief Customer Officer of the airport:

“We are seeing that Chinese airlines have confidence in the travel market between New Zealand and China, bringing high-value Chinese visitors who see us as a highly attractive destination to visit”.

“We have close to 300,000 Chinese living in New Zealand who want to visit family and the Chinese airlines flying into New Zealand have significant connecting hubs which travellers can use to reach North and Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom and Europe.”

“That provides more competition and choice for travellers.”

“With the bellyhold of passenger aircraft traditionally providing 80% of Auckland Airport’s air freight capacity, over the next six months, we expect 12,000 tonnes of air freight capacity to be available for exporters to send high-value goods to discerning Chinese consumers”.

China A Big Market for the Airport…

Sichuan Airlines Returns to Auckland Airport: Boosted China Links. — N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It is clear that China is a major market for Auckland Airport at the moment, with the following services in effect or due to launch:

Air China to Beijing 4 x week (7 x week in July)
Air New Zealand to Shanghai 7 x week
China Eastern to Shanghai 7 x week & (new route) Hangzhou (via Sydney) 4 x week
China Southern to Guangzhou 7 x week (14 x week in July)
Hainan Airlines to (new route) Haikou 3 x week and Shenzhen 3 x week
Sichuan Airlines to Chengdu 1 x week

In total, there will be 36 flights per week from Auckland to China, which is a considerable feat for the airport.

Overall…

In conclusion, the return of Sichuan Airlines to Auckland from Chengdu is a great sign for the airport.

China links continue to grow at an explosive rate, which is why we see 36 weekly flights to the country.

Looking ahead, all eyes will be on how much bigger this market can get for the Kiwi airport.

But for now, it will be interesting to see if Sichuan Airlines will expand this service from Chengdu in the future.

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April 19, 2024 0 comment

Emergency

Sichuan Airlines A321 Fuzhou-Chengdu declares emergency

by Len Varley February 7, 2024

written by Len Varley

A Sichuan Airlines scheduled flight operating between Fuzhou and Chengdu, China has declared an emergency and has diverted to Guangzhou (CAN).

Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8906, an Airbus A321 operating from Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) to Chengdu (CTU) declared an emergency with squawk code 7700 as it was on descent through 10,000 feet.

Sichuan Airlines 3U8906 Fuzhou – Chengdu

Diversion to Guangzhou

Flight 3U8906 now vectoring for finals at CAN. Data shows the flight squawked code 7700 in the early stages of the approach to the diversion airport, passing through 9,000 feet on descent.

Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8906 made a departure out of Fuzhou (FOC) today at 12:15 local time; setting course normally for the westerly route to Chengdu.

The aircraft climbed to cruising altitude FL340 (34,000 feet) for the medium haul service, before initiating a diversion, and then a descent at approximately 05:35 UTC.

Emergency declaration on descent

The descent continued normally, until the declaration of an emergency with transponder code 7700 as the aircraft was on descent below 10,000 feet in the Guangzhou region.

The nature of the emergency is not yet known. The aircraft conducting today’s regional service from Fuzhou to CTU was an Airbus A321-231 registered B-1823; a 9-year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines.

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February 7, 2024 0 comment

Incident

Sichuan Airlines A321neo Suffers Engine Trouble in Changchun

by James Field January 26, 2024

written by James Field

A Sichuan Airlines Airbus A321neo operating a flight between Changchun and Chengdu had to return to it’s origin field due to an engine failure onboard.

Incident: Sichuan Airlines A321neo Suffers Engine Trouble in Changchun…

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Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8424 is a routine scheduled flight between Changchun and Chengdu, with the affected rotation being operated by B-325H.

As per data from Planespotters.net, B-325H is a 2.4 year old Airbus A321neo that was delivered to the Chinese carrier back in October 2022, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM engines.

Of the A321neo variant, the carrier has 27 in the fleet, of which 21 are in active service and six are currently parked, offering an average fleet age of 3.9 years.

Sichuan Airlines flight 3U8424 departed Changchun at 1247 local time on January 21 and initially climbed out in the direction of Chengdu.

As per The Aviation Herald, eye witnesses noticed that when the Airbus A321neo climbed out of the airport, they saw the right hand engine emit loud bangs and streaks of flames for about 10 times during this stage of departure.

Following this incident, 3U8424 then proceeded to enter some holds before making a return back to Changchun at 1432 local time that same day.

It is understood that the aircraft is still on the ground following this incident, with no indication into when it will return to commercial service following the issue with the right-hand engine.

On top of this, it is unclear whether this will be another casualty in the context of the issues Pratt & Whitney have been having with engines as of late.

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January 26, 2024 0 comment

Airline

Sichuan Airlines Returns to Sydney, Chinese Market Recovered

by James Field November 3, 2023

written by James Field

This week saw Sichuan Airlines return to Sydney after a 45 month hiatus, which signifies a full recovery of the Chinese market for the airport.

In terms of direct services to China from the Australian area, the following is the list of airlines doing so:

Air China
Beijing Capital Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
China Southern Airlines
Hainan Airlines
Qantas
Sichuan Airlines
Tianjin Airlines
Xiamen Airlines

Sichuan Airlines Returns to Sydney, Chinese Market Recovered…

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Sichuan Airlines operated it’s first flight back to Sydney from Chengdu, which makes them the final ex-Chinese operator to reinstate flights to the region.

Geoff Culbert, the CEO of the airport said the following on the airline’s return:

“The return of Sichuan Airlines comes at a time when capacity to China is nearing pre-Covid levels, something that seemed impossible at the start of the year.

“We started the year with very few flights from China, but by November we’ll be 86 per cent recovered, with more flights coming online in the coming months.

“The pace at which this market has returned has exceeded our expectations and will play a crucial role in supporting the recovery of tourism, business and student travel and the broader New South Wales economy.”

Adding to this was Deyun Wu, the General Manager of the Commercial Committee at Sichuan Airlines:

“We are so excited to open up the Chengdu to Sydney route and proud to welcome Australians to the home of the giant panda.”

“Chengdu is a city that offers visitors unique cultural experiences and natural wonders, from sacred mountains and bamboo forests to spicy Sichuan cuisine and tranquil teahouses.”

Overall, this is great news for the airport as now the focus will be on bolstering the Chinese market going into the future.

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November 3, 2023 0 comment

Airline

Sichuan Airlines takes delivery of first leased A330 P2F freighter

by Len Varley May 18, 2023

written by Len Varley

Sichuan Airlines has taken delivery of China’s first-ever converted Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter (A330 P2F) aircraft on lease from CDB Aviation.

The A330 was converted by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) with Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company Limited (“STARCO”) at its facilities in Shanghai Pudong.

The aircraft rollout becomes EFW’s first-ever A330 P2F conversion to have taken place in China.

First A330 P2F in fleet

“This re-delivery marks a significant milestone for Sichuan Airlines and China as we see the outcome of intense work and collaboration resulting in the arrival of the country’s very first A330 P2F,” asserted Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer.

“We are grateful to the Sichuan Airlines team for trusting CDB Aviation to be a partner in supporting their innovative fleet strategy and for becoming our first A330 P2F customer in China.”

“This aircraft will be a superb addition to their fleet as the airline continues to serve the country’s rapidly expanding air cargo market.”

The freighter, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, was delivered to Sichuan Airlines this week on Monday May 15, 2023, becoming the inaugural A330 P2F in the carrier’s fleet.

In addition to the A330 P2F, CDB Aviation has two A320 aircraft on lease to the airline.

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“We are very happy to build on our relationship with CDB Aviation and thank CEO Jie Chen and his team for their work and cooperation in bringing this aircraft to market,” said Zuyi Shi, Sichuan Airlines’ Chief Executive Officer.

“The introduction of this A330 P2F will provide us more freighter capacity to meet the market requirement and further strengthen our development strategy in cargo business.”

The A330 widebody freighter

The A330 P2F is the in-demand, next-generation aircraft in the fast-growing medium widebody space.

CDB Aviation was one of the first lessors to secure conversion commitments for the A330 P2F. Since the company’s entry into the air cargo space in 2022, CDB Aviation has contracted 14 A330 P2F conversions with EFW.

“To offer conversions in China, serving the high demand in this growing market, was an important strategic decision for EFW,” commented Jordi Boto, Chief Executive Officer of Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH.

“We are very pleased to have successfully started this journey together with CDB Aviation, our first customer with A330 P2F conversions on three continents, and we are very grateful for the trust they placed in us.”

Han Weimin, General Manager of Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company Limited, acknowledged the milestone delivery, confirming further future redelivery is of converted freighter aircraft to both China and international customers.

“The A330 P2F continues to gain traction as the preferred, next-generation medium widebody freighter. We strategically positioned our platform to be at the forefront of the A330 P2F program.”

“We are very pleased with its accelerating momentum and look forward to expanding our freighter fleet in collaboration with our partners at Airbus, ST Engineering, and EFW,” concluded Chen.

May 18, 2023 0 comment

Airline

Sichuan Airlines begins cargo operations to Budapest

by iudol April 25, 2023

written by iudol

One of Western China’s leading airlines, Sichuan Airlines, has launched a cargo service between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Sichuan Province and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.

The new connection between Chengdu and the Hungarian capital plays a vital role in Chinese-Hungarian trade relations.

It is a progressive step for Budapest Airport as a leading regional airport in Eastern Europe. The flight is also beneficial for the economy of Hungary as a whole.

First scheduled flight

The first scheduled flight to Chengdu, Western China in the history of Budapest Airport was launched on the 20th of April.

The cargo run by the Chinese airline will now fly to the Hungarian capital three days weekly, utilizing the state-of-the-art converted Airbus A330-200 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion.

Both the airline and the airport authorities expect that this route will be a success, as the flight will stimulate the import/export growth of the Hungarian economy.

It enhances e-commerce by allowing entrepreneurs and businesses, both large and small to take advantage of the capacity between the two cities, allowing for trade enhancement between the two nations.

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Chief development officer of Budapest Airport, René Droese, stated: “As a result of the excellent joint work with our cargo community, Budapest Airport’s role as a gateway for air cargo in Central and Eastern Europe is growing rapidly, especially to Asia, including China.”

“We are seeing increasing demand for new cargo routes and for increased capacity on existing routes, and we plan to expand our cargo connections, besides Asia, to Western Europe and the transatlantic region as well.”

“We are delighted to welcome Sichuan Airlines to Budapest and wish them every success!” he concluded enthusiastically.

The airline also shared its enthusiasm on the launching of the flight as freighter station manager of Sichuan Airlines Peter Xu stated: “The new aerial connection supports the success of the air Silk Road, as part of the Belt and Road initiative, further strengthening the excellent trade relationship between Hungary and China.”

He furthered: “Sichuan Airlines’ cargo network offers integrated, customized and professional logistics services for both Hungarian and Chinese companies, and the new flight will surely become an important logistics channel for the export of high-quality Hungarian goods to Chinese cities and vice versa.”

Breaking records

In fact, Budapest broke the volume air cargo record by reaching 194,000 tons by the end of last year, which is an increase of 5.8% compared to 2021 and 44% compared to 2019.

The impressive news doesn’t stop there, as the continuous growth was also felt in March this year. The volume of air cargo exceeded the average monthly cargo volume of other European airports compared to previous years at 4.3% and 2019 by 49.3%.

The growth numbers are extremely impressive as the continent records an economic slowdown, which also has a direct impact on air cargo.

The BUD Cargo City

The Cargo City was opened by the airport during the Covid restrictions of 2020; forming an important backbone for the economy and the supply chain of Hungary’s ailing economy. This includes the 12,000 people working in the cargo sector in the European nation.

The BUD Cargo City has been touted as a success. The city itself led to the construction of the facility itself. The expansion includes the adjoining cargo apron, the freight handling building, and warehouse capacities.

The plan will allow Budapest Airport to handle a cargo capacity from 250,000 to 300,000 tons.

April 25, 2023 0 comment

Airline

Vietnam Airlines Grounds 12 Aircraft

by Len Varley March 3, 2024

written by Len Varley

As reported by VnExpress, Vietnam Airlines has grounded 12 of its aircraft for maintenance due to engine issues.

This article will cover the details surrounding Vietnam Airlines’ aircraft groundings due to their engine issues.

Vietnam Airlines 12 Aircraft Grounded

Photo Credit: Dltl2010, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Becoming another operator adding their aircraft grounding due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues, Vietnam Airlines has grounded 12 of its Airbus A321neos.

These 12 aircraft represent approximately 20% of the airline’s domestic fleet. These are part of the over 3500 A321neo/A320neo aircraft that are suffering from this issue globally.

In fact, with these issues, the aircraft will be grounded for up to 300 days, as reported by the carriers Chief Executive Officer, Le Hong Ha.

As this delay is caused by supply chain issues which have resulted in a doubling of their maintenance time.

The operator has a current fleet of 20 Airbus A321neos, as well as, 45 Airbus A321ceos that form its domestic fleet.

In terms of its long haul fleet, they have 14 Airbus A350-900s, 11 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner’s and four Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner’s.

Vietnam Airlines also has a five A320neos, four 787-10s, two A321P2Fs and 50 737 MAX 8s on order.

Pratt & Whitney Engine Issues

Back in July 2023, RTX, the parent company to Pratt & Whitney, had reported that they’ve discovered an issue with their PW1100G-JM GTF engines.

This is due to a rare condition in its powder metal used as part of the engine’s HPT (High-Pressure Turbine) stage 1 and 2 discs.

This condition could lead to premature cracks happening on those discs, risking possible uncontained disc failures.

However, this discovery has been the result of many operators having to ground their aircraft for inspections and repairs.

Furthermore, this will only effect engines that were manufactured between October 2015 and September 2021.

PW GTF Operators

The below is a list of all PW1100G-JM GTF engine operators of the Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft.

However, it needs to be disclosed that this issue will not affect all of these listed operators.

Aegean Airlines – Greece
Air Astana – Kazakhstan
Air China – China
Air Macau – Macao
Air New Zealand – New Zealand
Aircalin – New Caledonia
Air Transat – Canada
All Nippon Airways (ANA) – Japan
AnadoluJet – Turkey
Austrian Airlines – Austria
AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines – Azerbaijan
Cebu Pacific – Philippines
China Airlines – Taiwan
China Express Airlines – China
China Southern Airlines – China
Delta Air Lines – United States
FlyArystan – Kazakhstan
Frontier Airlines – United States
Hawaiian Airlines – United States
HiSky Europe – Romania
Hong Kong Express – Hong Kong
IndiGo – India
ITA Airways – Italy
jetBlue – United States
JetSMART – Chile
Juneyao Airlines – China
Korean Air – Republic of Korea
LATAM Airlines Group – Brazil
Lufthansa – Germany
Marabu Airlines – Estonia
MEA Middle East Airlines – Lebanon
Philippine Airlines – Philippines
Qingdao Airlines – China
S7 Siberia Airlines – Russia
Scoot – Singapore
Shenzhen Airlines – China
Sichuan Airlines – China
Spirit Airlines – United States
Swiss – Switzerland
Tianjin Airlines – China
Tigerair Taiwan – Taiwan
Turkish Airlines – Turkey
United Airlines – United States
VietJetAir – Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines – Vietnam
Viva Aerobus – Mexico
Volaris – Mexico
Vueling – Spain
West Air – China
Wizz Air Group – Hungary

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March 3, 2024 0 comment

Airport

Is There Uber in Vancouver Airport?: What You Need to Know…

by James Field July 6, 2024

written by James Field

Travelling to and from Vancouver Airport and wondering if Uber operates in the area? Find out what the ride-sharing app offers from the Canadian airport.

This is a question asked by a lot of our readers, and specifically to the Canadian airport itself.

So without further ado, here is what you need to know…

Uber Does Dropoff at Vancouver Airport…

Is there Uber for drop-off facilities at Vancouver Airport? Yes there is!

From the city to the airport has an average travel time of 20-25 minutes, with the average price coming in at C$32.

Within those facilities, when you book the Uber, you can also select the terminal you need to go to based on the airline you are flying with.

Uber has the following options for drop-off based on the following airlines:

Aer Lingus.
Aeroméxico.
Air Canada.
Air France.
Air India.
Air New Zealand.
Air North.
Air Tahiti Nui.
Air Transat.
Alaska Airlines.
American Airlines.
ANA.
Asiana Airlines.
Austrian Airlines.
Azores Airlines.
British Airways.
Cathay Pacific.
Central Mountain Air.
China Airlines.
China Southern Airlines.
Copa Airlines.
Croatia Airlines.
Delta.
EGYPTAIR.
EVA Air.
Fiji Airways.
Finnair.
Flair Airlines.
Iberia.
Japan Airlines.
JetBlue.
Kish Air.
KLM.
Korean Air.
LATAM Airlines.
LOT Polish Airlines.
Lufthansa.
Lynx Air.
Malaysia Airlines.
Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Philippine Airlines.
Porter Airlines.
Qantas.
Qatar Airways.
Sichuan Airlines.
Singapore Airlines.
SriLankan Airlines.
Sunwing.
TAP Air Portugal.
Thai Airways.
Turkish Airlines.
United.
Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Australia.
WestJet.
Xiamen Airlines.

Of course, some of the airlines listed may not operate out of Vancouver Airport, but in the regard of whether Uber does drop-off there, yes they do.

They Also Can Pick You Up from the Airport…

Is there Uber at Vancouver Airport for pick-ups? Yes, there is!

When you arrive at the airport from another destination, they have three pickup points on offer for passengers:

International Pickups: Head to the Arrivals level and follow signs to the Ground Transportation area. Exit the terminal and cross the street to the Ride-App Pickup zone on the outer curb.
Domestic Pickups: Head to the Arrivals level and follow signs for the Ground Transportation pickup area. Exit the terminal and meet your driver in the Ride-App Pickup zone between stalls 8 and 14.
South Terminal Pickups: Exit the terminal and cross the pedestrian crosswalk to meet your driver in the Ride-App Pickup zone on the outer curb.

Pricing for pick-ups may be a bit more than the drop-offs, but that is typical of Uber at airports around the world.

Overall…

GoToVan from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

So to answer the question: Is there Uber in Vancouver Airport? There is, for both pick-up and drop-off.

The ride-sharing company provides a strong offering at the Canadian airport to enable you to get to your onward destination quicker.

They also offer affordable everyday rides to the more premium vehicles, depending on your taste for transportation.

But it is safe to say overall that the company does cover the Canadian airport adequately, if not strongly.

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July 6, 2024 0 comment

Airline

COMAC ARJ21 Operates First Commercial Flight in Central Asia

by Len Varley June 13, 2024

written by Len Varley

China’s homegrown regional jet, the COMAC ARJ21, has taken a significant step forward by completing its first revenue flight to Central Asia with Chengdu Airlines.

The landmark flight, operated by the Chinese subsidiary carrier Chengdu Airlines, marks a new chapter in regional connectivity and economic exchange.

The ARJ21 departed from Kashgar Prefecture in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on June 7, 2024.

Operating as flight EU2977, the aircraft arrived in Khujand, Tajikistan, over two hours later.

Supporting Air Silk Road Initiative

This successful flight signifies the growing capabilities of China’s commercial aviation sector. It also paves the way for further expansion into Central Asia.

The new route is expected to deliver a multitude of benefits:

Economic Growth: Increased air traffic between Kashgar and Khujand is anticipated to stimulate trade and investment between the two regions.
Cultural Exchange: Easier travel options will foster cultural exchange and understanding between China and Tajikistan.
Tourism Boost: The ARJ21’s operation on this route is likely to encourage tourism between the two countries, benefiting both economies.

This development aligns with China’s “Air Silk Road” initiative. This aims to establish a network of air routes connecting China with other countries across Eurasia.

The ARJ21’s successful flight to Central Asia demonstrates China’s commitment to this initiative and its vision for enhanced regional connectivity.

The COMAC ARJ21

The COMAC ARJ21 is also known as the Xiangfeng (Soaring Phoenix). It is a domestically developed regional jet by China’s Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC).

It’s a key player in China’s efforts to become a major force in the commercial aviation industry.

Designed for regional routes, the ARJ21 typically seats between 78 and 90 passengers, offering airlines flexibility for shorter-distance flights.

It boasts a modern design featuring a 25-degree swept wing for improved fuel efficiency. The aircraft boasts a comfortable cabin experience for passengers.

The ARJ21 program commenced in 2002, and after several years of development and testing, it received its official certification in 2014.

Chengdu Airlines became the launch customer in 2016. Since then, the ARJ21 has steadily gained traction within China’s domestic market.

The successful first flight to Central Asia signifies a crucial step forward for the ARJ21. It demonstrates the aircraft’s capabilities for international operations and paves the way for further expansion into regional markets.

Through continued development and accumulating operational experience, the COMAC ARJ21 is actively positioning itself to become a major contributor to China’s aviation goals.

A Chengdu Airlines COMAC ARJ21 approaches to land. — Danny Yu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

About Chengdu Airlines

Chengdu Airlines, the carrier operating the historic ARJ21 flight to Central Asia, is a prominent player in China’s domestic aviation landscape.

In 2004, Chengdu Airlines (formerly United Eagle Airlines) took flight, establishing its headquarters in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It operates as a subsidiary carrier of the established Sichuan Airlines.

Chengdu Airlines focuses on domestic passenger flights, operating a network that spans over 113 destinations within China.

Their primary hub is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, a major transportation hub in western China.

The airline offers a two-cabin configuration on its fleet, consisting primarily of Airbus A319 and A320 series aircraft, along with a growing number of COMAC ARJ21s.

This focus on regional jets allows Chengdu Airlines to cater to the demands of shorter-distance routes within China, offering passengers convenient connections across the country.

Chengdu Airlines’ successful operation of the ARJ21 to Central Asia highlights its commitment to innovation and playing a role in China’s aviation development.

As the airline expands its network and embraces new technologies like the ARJ21, it is likely to remain a key player in connecting China’s regions and fostering economic growth.

Summary

This commercial achievement marks a significant milestone for both COMAC, the developer of the ARJ21, and Chengdu Airlines.

To solidify its position in the global commercial aviation market, China and COMAC will be closely monitoring the ARJ21’s performance on this new Central Asian route.

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June 13, 2024 0 comment

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