Chengdu Airlines
Chengdu Airlines is an airline headquartered in Shuangliu, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. A subsidiary of Sichuan Airlines, it operates a network of scheduled domestic passenger flights out of its hub at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu [Tianfu International Airport] both located in Chengdu.
History
Originally named United Eagle Airlines Co., Ltd, the company was founded in 2004 by a former executive of China Northwest Airlines, with the necessary funding being provided by the Vickers Financial Group. It took delivery of its first airliner, an Airbus A320 that previously had belonged to Air Jamaica, on 8 July 2005, and on 27 July, revenue flights were commenced. Another similar aircraft type, the slightly smaller Airbus A319, was put in service with United Eagle Airlines on 2 December of that year.In March 2009, Sichuan Airlines invested 200 million RMB in United Eagle Airlines, thus holding 76 percent of the shares. In late 2009, these shares were sold to Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac and to Chengdu Communications Investment Group. Following this ownership change, United Eagle Airlines placed a firm order for 30 Comac ARJ21s, the first of which initially was planned to be delivered in late 2010.
On 23 January 2010, the airline was renamed Chengdu Airlines.