Shandong Airlines
Airline Statistics
364
Active Routes3505
Flight Observations70
Unique Destinations77
Origin Airports787
Avg Route Distance (mi)2597
Longest Route (mi)0
Domestic Routes100
International RoutesAbout Shandong Airlines
Shandong Airlines (ICAO: CDG) is a prominent Chinese airline with a strong regional focus and a growing international presence.
Shandong Airlines was established on March 12, 1994, and commenced operations in September of the same year. It was a founding member of the Xinxing (New Star) Aviation Alliance in September 1997, formed to enhance financial stability and deter takeovers from larger competitors. The airline is majority-owned by Air China Limited, which holds a 51% controlling stake, with additional funding from shareholders such as Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd. and Shandong Finance Group Co., Ltd.. Its headquarters are located in the Shandong Airlines Center in Jinan, Shandong.
The airline's main operational bases and hubs include Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport (TNA), Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (which replaced Qingdao Liuting International Airport in 2021), and Yantai Penglai International Airport (YNT). Shandong Airlines operates an extensive network with a fleet primarily composed of Boeing 737 series aircraft, including the 737-700, 737-800, and 737 MAX 8 models. As of November 2025, its fleet size is approximately 139 aircraft.
Shandong Airlines maintains a significant route network, offering over 380 domestic, international, and regional routes. It serves more than 80 major and mid-sized cities across China, with popular domestic routes connecting cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. Internationally, the airline focuses on regional Asian destinations, flying to countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, as well as Hong Kong (China) and Taiwan (China). While Shandong Airlines is a subsidiary of Air China and shares its Phoenix Miles frequent flyer program, it primarily operates independently and leverages its strategic partnership with Air China for broader connectivity rather than being a full Star Alliance member. The airline offers various cabin classes including Economy Class, Premium Economy, Business Class, and First Class, providing services such as in-flight entertainment, meals, web check-in, and priority boarding options.
Traveler Reviews
Traveler reviews for Shandong Airlines present a mixed but generally positive picture, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.
What Travelers Love:
- Punctuality and Efficiency: Many travelers appreciate the airline's on-time performance for flights.
- Modern and Clean Aircraft: Passengers often note the clean and well-maintained cabins, particularly on newer Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
- Comfortable Seating (in some cases): Several reviews praise ample legroom and seat comfort, sometimes even describing it as more generous than other airlines.
- Attentive Cabin Staff: The politeness and attentiveness of the cabin crew are frequently mentioned as positive aspects of the service.
- Value for Money: For domestic and regional flights, the airline is often seen as offering good value.
Common Complaints:
- Flight Delays and Poor Communication: Significant delays without adequate explanation or updates are a recurring issue, causing inconvenience for connecting flights.
- Inconsistent Customer Service: Some travelers report unprofessional ground staff, unhelpful customer service representatives, and a lack of responsiveness to questions or issues, especially in English.
- Basic or Poor Meals: While some reviews value in-flight meals, others describe them as very basic or of poor quality, particularly for short-haul flights or in economy class.
- Chaotic Boarding and Check-in: Experiences with disorganized boarding processes and understaffed premium check-in counters have been noted.
- Subpar Lounge Experience: The First Class lounge experience at some airports has been described as disappointing, offering very basic amenities.
Overall, traveler sentiment suggests that while Shandong Airlines can provide an efficient and comfortable flight experience with attentive staff, particularly on newer aircraft, it sometimes struggles with communication during disruptions and offers inconsistent service quality, especially concerning ground services and catering.
Safety Information
Shandong Airlines maintains a strong safety reputation based on available data and recognitions.
The airline has an "impeccable safety record for 30 consecutive years". AirlineRatings.com gives Shandong Airlines a high 7/7 safety rating. This is supported by multiple safety awards from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), including the "Golden Wild Goose Cup" and "Golden Eagle Cup" (received four times), and the "Five-Star Flight Safety Award". Shandong Airlines is also noted as the first and only airline to have received the "China Quality Award".
While the overall safety record is strong, there have been some incidents. On June 27, 2025, Shandong Airlines Flight SC4667, a Boeing 737-800, made an emergency landing in Nanjing due to an engine malfunction, which involved loud noises, vibrations, and a burning odor in the cabin. The crew handled the situation professionally, ensuring a safe landing and disembarkation. Another incident occurred on July 30, 2025, involving a nose gear steering failure on a Boeing 737-800 after landing at Xiamen. Additionally, on November 10, 2024, a parked Boeing 737 MAX 8 was struck by an airport bus at Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport, causing minor damage to the winglet. Other past incidents include burst tires on landing in 2016 and a bird strike in 2014.
In terms of regulatory compliance, Shandong Airlines is not listed on the European Union (EU) Air Safety List (often referred to as the "EU blacklist"), which means it is permitted to operate flights into, out of, and over EU airspace. The airline's fleet primarily consists of Boeing 737 series aircraft. As of August 2022, the average age of its Boeing 737-800s was 8.9 years, while 737-700s averaged 16.9 years, and 737 MAX 8s (though grounded in China at that time) averaged 2.9 years. By January 2025, the average fleet age was approximately 12 years. The airline emphasizes its "industry-leading maintenance facilities" at its hubs to support reliability and safety.
Overall, based on its high safety ratings, numerous awards from Chinese aviation authorities, and the absence from international safety blacklists, Shandong Airlines demonstrates a robust commitment to safety and maintains a commendable safety record despite occasional incidents.
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
Top Destinations
Top Origin Airports
Top Border Crossing Flights
Longest Routes
Shortest Routes
All Routes
364 Total Routes| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YNT → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
101 | 290 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| HSN → TAO |
Qingdao Jiaodong Int'l
Qingdao
|
63 | 464 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| YNT → SHA |
Shanghai Hongqiao Int'l
Shanghai
|
63 | 448 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| ICN → TAO |
Qingdao Jiaodong Int'l
Qingdao
|
60 | 359 mi | 73F | Feb 1, 2026 |
| KWL → HAK |
Haikou Meilan Int'l
Haikou
|
59 | 366 mi | B738 | Jan 31, 2026 |
| YNT → NKG |
Nanjing Lukou Int'l
Nanjing
|
53 | 427 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| HSN → JJN |
Quanzhou Jinjiang
Quanzhou
|
52 | 424 mi | B38M | Jan 29, 2026 |
| KHG → TNA |
Jinan Yaoqiang
Jinan
|
49 | 2227 mi | B38M | Feb 1, 2026 |
| HSN → XMN |
Xiamen Gaoqi Int'l
Xiamen
|
48 | 455 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| KWL → CGO |
Zhengzhou Xinzheng Int'l
Zhengzhou
|
48 | 682 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| HGH → TAO |
Qingdao Jiaodong Int'l
Qingdao
|
47 | 425 mi | B738 | Jan 24, 2026 |
| KWL → TNA |
Jinan Yaoqiang
Jinan
|
44 | 910 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| YNT → CAN |
Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l
Guangzhou
|
43 | 1087 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| YNT → TNA |
Jinan Yaoqiang
Jinan
|
37 | 214 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| BAV → TYN |
Taiyuan Wusu
Taiyuan
|
34 | 240 mi | B738 | Jan 31, 2026 |
| TFU → TNA |
Jinan Yaoqiang
Jinan
|
33 | 862 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| YNT → CGQ |
Changchun Longjia Int'l
Changchun
|
32 | 502 mi | B738 | Jan 30, 2026 |
| JMU → YNT |
Penglai International
Yantai
|
32 | 798 mi | B738 | Oct 23, 2025 |
| WDS → TAO |
Qingdao Jiaodong Int'l
Qingdao
|
32 | 585 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| KIX → TAO |
Qingdao Jiaodong Int'l
Qingdao
|
32 | 864 mi | 73F | Feb 1, 2026 |
| WEH → TNA |
Jinan Yaoqiang
Jinan
|
32 | 278 mi | B38M | Feb 1, 2026 |
| ZUH → PEK |
Beijing Capital Int'l
Beijing
|
32 | 1264 mi | B738 | Feb 1, 2026 |
| KWL → NKG |
Nanjing Lukou Int'l
Nanjing
|
31 | 700 mi | B738 | Jan 29, 2026 |
| LNL → XIY |
Xi'an Xianyang Int'l
Xi'an
|
30 | 175 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| HGH → XMN |
Xiamen Gaoqi Int'l
Xiamen
|
28 | 418 mi | B738 | Jan 28, 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: Feb 1, 2026 21:05
Coverage: Observed routes only