Air China
Airline Statistics
952
Active Routes16521
Flight Observations182
Unique Destinations194
Origin Airports1488
Avg Route Distance (mi)8149
Longest Route (mi)0
Domestic Routes100
International RoutesAbout Air China
Air China Limited, with ICAO code CCA, is the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, headquartered in Shunyi, Beijing. The airline was established on July 1, 1988, as a result of the Chinese government's decision to split the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) into six separate airlines. Air China was initially assigned primary responsibility for intercontinental flights and took over CAAC's long-haul aircraft and routes.
Air China operates with a robust hub system. Its primary operational base is in Beijing, utilizing both Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Secondary hubs include Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Chengdu (Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport - CTU and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport - TFU). As of December 31, 2021, Air China, including its subsidiaries, operated a diverse fleet of 746 aircraft, primarily from Boeing and Airbus. The fleet includes models such as Boeing 737s, 747s, 777s, 787s, and Airbus A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s, and A350s, along with Comac ARJ21-700 regional jets.
The airline boasts an extensive route network, reaching throughout Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. Air China is notable for being one of the few world airlines that fly to all six habitable continents. As of November 2025, it serves 134 domestic and 76 international destinations across 47 countries. Air China is a member of Star Alliance, having joined in 2007, which significantly expands its network to 1,317 airports in 193 countries through cooperation with other member airlines. The airline offers various cabin classes, including Forbidden Pavilion First Class, Capital Pavilion Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class, with lie-flat beds available on many medium-to-long distance flights in premium cabins. Its frequent flyer program is called PhoenixMiles.
Traveler Reviews
Travelers generally perceive Air China as a reliable airline that provides fair value for money, especially for direct flights to China and other Asian destinations.
What Travelers Love:
- Reliable Service: Many passengers appreciate Air China's adherence to flight schedules and overall punctuality.
- Quality of Food and Beverages: The variety and taste of onboard meal options, including both Chinese and Western choices, and the diversity of drink selections, often receive positive feedback.
- Crew Enthusiasm and Friendliness: Air China's cabin crew are frequently praised for their enthusiastic and friendly demeanor.
- Comfortable Premium Cabins/Newer Aircraft: On newer aircraft like the A350 and 787, and in Business and First Class, passengers commend the ergonomically designed seats, adequate legroom, and lie-flat seating options.
Common Complaints:
- Inconsistent Cabin Crew Service and Language Barrier: A frequent complaint revolves around the inconsistency of cabin crew service, with some non-Mandarin speaking passengers experiencing communication challenges due to limited English proficiency among certain crew members.
- Underwhelming In-Flight Entertainment (IFE): The selection and variety of Western movies and TV shows often lag behind other major international carriers, and onboard Wi-Fi may block certain websites.
- Online Check-in and App Issues: Many travelers report difficulties with Air China's online check-in process and app functionality, particularly for those without Chinese phone numbers, making seat selection problematic.
- Economy Class Legroom and Cleanliness: On some older aircraft, economy class legroom can feel cramped, and cabin cleanliness has occasionally drawn criticism.
- Customer Service Responsiveness: There are reports of poor customer service, including unresponsiveness to emails and difficulties in resolving issues through phone support.
Overall, Air China is considered a practical and safe option, particularly for travelers prioritizing direct routes and competitive pricing to China. While its premium products on modern aircraft are well-regarded, improvements are often suggested for its customer service, in-flight entertainment offerings, and consistency in cabin crew's language skills.
Safety Information
Air China has an impressive safety record, emphasizing safe flight operations and service excellence. AirlineRatings.com gives Air China a 7/7 safety rating, indicating a strong adherence to international safety standards. China's civil aviation, in general, has maintained a very low accident rate, with few major incidents in recent years.
While there have been reported *incidents*, these are distinct from fatal accidents. Recent reported incidents for Air China include clear air turbulence causing injuries (July 2023), a portable electronic device (PED) lithium-ion battery fire (October 2025), an engine fire with smoke in the cabin requiring evacuation (September 2023), and loose screws found in a flap fairing (July 2022). These events highlight that, like all airlines, Air China experiences operational issues, but its record demonstrates a capability to manage and mitigate such incidents without resulting in fatal accidents.
Specific details regarding regulatory certifications like IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) or FAA compliance for Air China were not explicitly provided in the search results, however, a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com typically implies compliance with global best practices and audits. Air China's fleet, as of December 31, 2021, has an average age of 8.23 years. The airline places significant importance on the recruitment and training of its talent, with a Flight Operations Training Centre boasting world-class instructors and facilities to ensure a steady supply of high-caliber pilots.
Air China has received recognition for its safety commitment, including the "Jinpeng Cup," the highest prize of aviation safety awarded by CAAC in 2005. Based on available data, Air China maintains a strong overall safety assessment, reflected in its high safety ratings and a low incidence of major accidents.
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
Top Destinations
Top Origin Airports
Top Border Crossing Flights
Longest Routes
Shortest Routes
All Routes
952 Total Routes| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEK → DLC |
Dalian Zhoushuizi Int'l
Dalian
|
176 | 275 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| PVG → ANC |
Anchorage Intl
Anchorage
|
166 | 4304 mi | B77L | Jan 30, 2026 |
| INC → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
164 | 559 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| UBN → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
160 | 714 mi | B38M | Jan 30, 2026 |
| CKG → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
146 | 911 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| HGH → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
142 | 715 mi | A321 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| TGO → HET |
Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
|
137 | 563 mi | 909 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| XIL → HET |
Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
|
125 | 299 mi | 909 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| JMU → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
122 | 837 mi | B737 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| PEK → PVG |
Shanghai Pudong Int'l
Shanghai
|
116 | 684 mi | B77L | Jan 27, 2026 |
| PVG → LAX |
Los Angeles Intl
Los Angeles
|
115 | 6480 mi | B77L | Jan 30, 2026 |
| ORD → PVG |
Shanghai Pudong Int'l
Shanghai
|
110 | 7051 mi | B77L | Jan 28, 2026 |
| DZH → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
108 | 808 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| ANC → ORD |
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Chicago
|
107 | 2842 mi | B77L | Jan 1, 2026 |
| KWL → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
100 | 1096 mi | A321 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| UBN → HET |
Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
|
100 | 531 mi | 909 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| SZX → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
94 | 1217 mi | A330 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| PEK → CTU |
Chengdu Shuangliu Int'l
Chengdu
|
92 | 968 mi | A330 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| HGH → CTU |
Chengdu Shuangliu Int'l
Chengdu
|
92 | 983 mi | A21N | Jan 30, 2026 |
| KIX → PVG |
Shanghai Pudong Int'l
Shanghai
|
91 | 814 mi | A321 | Jan 26, 2026 |
| ENY → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
91 | 449 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| PEK → SZX |
Shenzhen Bao'an Int'l
Shenzhen
|
88 | 1217 mi | A359 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| LAX → PVG |
Shanghai Pudong Int'l
Shanghai
|
87 | 6480 mi | B77L | Jan 26, 2026 |
| CIF → HET |
Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
|
87 | 374 mi | 909 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| KRL → TFU |
Chengdu Tianfu Int'l
Chengdu
|
86 | 1287 mi | A20N | Jan 25, 2026 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.
Last Update: Jan 30, 2026 20:02
Coverage: Observed routes only