China Northern Airlines


China Northern Airlines was an airline headquartered on the grounds of Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, Shenyang, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. Established on June 16, 1990, it was one of the six backbone airlines directly under the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Besides Shenyang, it also had four other hubs at Changchun Dafangshen Airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport, Harbin Taiping International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport.
It was one of six major airline corporations that were formed as a result of the breakup of CAAC. It initially operated a fleet of Airbus A300-600R, MD-80, MD-90-30 and, later, Airbus A321-200 aircraft. It operated predominantly domestic destinations and also to North Korea, South Korea and Japan.

History

China Northern Airlines was established on 16 June 1990. In 1994, China Northern Airlines decided to purchase 11 McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft, whilst passing down some of their older McDonnell Douglas MD-82 to smaller airlines like its subsidiary, Beihai Airlines. By 1997, China Northern had increased the number ordered to 13. In 1997, the airline relocated its training center from the United States to the new Kunming Training Centre. In 1998, China Northern was China's 5th largest airline in terms of passenger traffic, and had a load factor of 55.1%. In 1999, it was announced that Britten-Norman would resurrect the Britten-Norman Trislander after China Northern placed an order for 3 aircraft, scheduled to be delivered between September 2000 and January 2001. This was done to replace the airline's aging Harbin Y-5 biplanes for regional services. By the end of 1999, the airline had reached a total cargo rotation volume of 4882 million ton/km. Around this time, it was said that China Eastern Airlines was considering acquiring China Northern Airlines, along with China Northwest Airlines.
In 2000, it was announced that China Northern signed a deal with Airbus for ten Airbus A321 aircraft. In November 2000, China Northern and Angel Air formed a partnership which involved wet leasing 3 Airbus A300-600R from China Northern to Angel Air, and a possible joint marketing agreement. The wet lease was scheduled to last for 3–5 years. By the end of 2000, reports by China's official press outlined a draft plan for a wave of airline consolidations in China, which included the acquisition of China Northern Airlines by China Southern Airlines. This came after years of pressure by the CAAC to consolidate many of China's airlines into China's 3 largest airlines to eradicate unnecessary competition. On 3 January 2002, Angel Air announced it would halt all services on 5 January, and that the partnership with China Northern would end.
In October 2002, China's state council approved the takeover of China Northern Airlines and China Xinjiang Airlines by China Southern Airlines. By January 2003, both airlines began operating China Southern's IATA code "CZ" for all domestic flights, with international flights to follow by 30 March 2003. At that time, both airlines had their frequent flyer programs merge into Sky Pearl Club. Whilst operating under the China Southern Airlines brand, it was reported that China Northern was to order 23 Airbus A320 family aircraft to replace its aging MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft. By the September 2004, the airline had already taken delivery of 4 Airbus A319 aircraft. China Northern later fully merged into China Southern Airlines by the end of 2004.

Destinations

The following is an incomplete list of destinations served by China Northern Airlines:
CountryCityAirportNotes
ChinaBeijingBeijing Capital International Airport
ChinaChangchunChangchun Dafangshen Airport
ChinaChangshaChangsha Huanghua International Airport
ChinaChangzhouChangzhou Benniu International Airport
ChinaChaoyangChaoyang Airport
ChinaChengduChengdu Shuangliu International Airport
ChinaChifengChifeng Yulong Airport
ChinaChongqingChongqing Jiangbei International Airport
ChinaDalianDalian Zhoushuizi International Airport
ChinaFuzhouFuzhou Changle International Airport
ChinaFuzhouFuzhou Yixu Airport
ChinaGuangzhouGuangzhou Baiyun International Airport
ChinaGuilinGuilin Liangjiang International Airport
ChinaGuilinGuilin Qifengling Airport
ChinaGuiyangGuiyang Longdongbao International Airport
ChinaHaikouHaikou Dayingshan Airport
ChinaHaikouHaikou Meilan International Airport
ChinaHangzhouHangzhou Jianqiao Airport
ChinaHangzhouHangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
ChinaHarbinHarbin Taiping International Airport
ChinaHefeiHefei Luogang Airport
ChinaHong KongHong Kong International Airport
ChinaHong KongKai Tak Airport
ChinaJinanJinan Yaoqiang International Airport
ChinaJinanJinan Zhangzhuang Airport
ChinaKunmingKunming Wujiaba International Airport
ChinaLianyungangLianyungang Baitabu Airport
ChinaMacauMacau International Airport
ChinaNanjingNanjing Dajiaochang Airport
ChinaNanjingNanjing Lukou International Airport-
ChinaNingboNingbo Lishe International Airport
ChinaQingdaoQingdao Liuting International Airport
ChinaQinhuangdaoQinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport
ChinaSanyaSanya Phoenix International Airport
ChinaShanghaiShanghai Hongqiao International Airport
ChinaShanghaiShanghai Pudong International Airport
ChinaShantouShantou Waisha Airport
ChinaShenyangShenyang Taoxian International Airport
ChinaShenzhenShenzhen Bao'an International Airport
ChinaShijiazhuangShijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport
ChinaWeifangWeifang Airport
ChinaWenzhouWenzhou Longwan International Airport
ChinaWuhanWuhan Tianhe International Airport
ChinaWuhanWuhan Wangjiadun Airport
ChinaXi'anXi'an Xianyang International Airport
ChinaXiamenXiamen Gaoqi International Airport
ChinaYanjiYanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport
ChinaYantaiYantai Laishan Airport
ChinaZhengzhouZhengzhou Dongjiao Airport
ChinaZhengzhouZhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
ChinaZhuhaiZhuhai Jinwan Airport
JapanOsakaKansai International Airport
JapanSapporoNew Chitose Airport
JapanToyamaToyama Airport
JapanNiigataNiigata Airport
South KoreaSeoulGimpo International Airport
RussiaIrkutskInternational Airport Irkutsk
RussiaKhabarovskKhabarovsk Novy Airport
RussiaVladivostokVladivostok International Airport

Partner airlines

Zhongyuan Airlines had established partnerships with the following airlines:

Final fleet

At the time of merger, China Northern Airlines fleet consisted of:

Fleet history

Throughout the airline's history, the airline had operated:
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A300-600R819932004
Airbus A319-100420042004Operated under China Southern Airlines brand
Airbus A321-200620012004
Cessna 208 Caravan52002
McDonnell Douglas MD-822719902004
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-301319962004
Xian Y-7-1001119902004
Yunshuji Y-5

China Northern Airlines also operated a helicopter fleet.