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Tianjin Airlines

ICAO: GCR IATA: GS Active as of Feb 7, 2026

Airline Statistics

489

Active Routes

5112

Flight Observations

117

Unique Destinations

117

Origin Airports

717

Avg Route Distance (mi)

5278

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

100

International Routes

About Tianjin Airlines

Tianjin Airlines (ICAO: GCR) is a prominent Chinese airline recognized for its extensive regional network and growing international presence.

Tianjin Airlines was initially established in 2004 as Grand China Express Air, commencing its operations in 2007. The airline rebranded to its current name, Tianjin Airlines, in June 2009. It is a subsidiary of the HNA Aviation Group and is headquartered in the Dongli District of Tianjin, China. Its primary operational base is Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN). The airline also maintains several secondary hubs across China, including Xi'an (XIY), Hohhot (HET), Urumqi (URC), Guiyang (KWE), Chongqing (CKG), Haikou (HAK), and Dalian (DLC).

Tianjin Airlines operates a modern and diverse fleet, primarily consisting of Airbus A320-family aircraft (A320, A320neo, A321) for short to medium-haul routes, and Embraer regional jets (E190, E195) for regional connectivity. For its long-haul international services, the airline utilizes Airbus A330 aircraft (A330-200, A330-300). As of recent data, its fleet size is approximately 106-110 aircraft, with an average age reported to be around 7.7 to 8.6 years. The airline's route network encompasses over 130 cities, with a strong focus on domestic routes within China, serving more than 300 domestic connections. It also extends its reach to select international destinations in Asia (such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore), Europe (including London and Moscow), and Oceania (like Auckland and Melbourne).

While Tianjin Airlines is not a member of any of the major global airline alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld), it has established codeshare agreements with various carriers, including Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, XiamenAir, and Hainan Airlines, to expand its network. It is also part of the Fortune Wings Club frequent flyer program, which is shared among airlines within the HNA Group. The airline offers both Economy Class and Business Class cabins. Business Class provides amenities such as spacious seating (including flatbed options on some A330s), enhanced meal services featuring a mix of Chinese and Western cuisine, priority boarding, and access to airport lounges.

Traveler Reviews

Recent traveler reviews indicate a mixed, but generally positive, experience with Tianjin Airlines.

What Travelers Love:

  • Friendly and helpful staff: Many passengers commend the cabin and ground crew for being friendly, courteous, and very helpful throughout the flight.
  • Good legroom and seat comfort: Travelers have noted surprising amounts of legroom in Economy Class and comfortable, often flatbed, seating in Business Class on their Airbus A330s.
  • Competitive pricing: Tianjin Airlines is frequently highlighted as a great value or cheap option, especially for its Business Class product on longer routes.
  • Convenient direct routes: Passengers appreciate the airline's direct connections to various domestic and international cities.

Common Complaints:

  • Limited or outdated in-flight entertainment (IFE): A frequent criticism is the lack of diverse or functional in-flight entertainment, often limited to older Chinese movies, with some games not working.
  • Subpar in-flight meals: Several reviews describe the food as unappealing, unappetizing, or lacking variety, especially in Economy Class.
  • Language barrier with some cabin crew: Some travelers have reported difficulties communicating with certain cabin crew members due to English language struggles.
  • Cleanliness concerns: A recent review mentioned subpar aircraft cleanliness and unpleasant odors in the lavatories.
  • Flight delays and baggage handling issues: Instances of significant flight delays and carry-on bags being gate-checked despite available overhead space have been reported.

Overall, travelers find Tianjin Airlines to be a decent option for its value and staff service, particularly on routes with its newer aircraft or in Business Class. However, consistent improvements are desired in areas like in-flight entertainment, meal quality, and addressing occasional operational hiccups such as delays.

Safety Information

Tianjin Airlines has a commendable safety record, having safely operated its businesses for ten consecutive years as of April 2019. Airline Ratings gives Tianjin Airlines a safety rating of 7 out of 7, based on evaluations updated in February 2024.

The airline has passed important regulatory audits, including the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit), and officially became a member of IATA in 2011, demonstrating its adherence to international safety standards. While specific information on FAA compliance or EU safety list status is not readily available, this is common for airlines whose primary operations are outside these regulatory regions.

Tianjin Airlines operates a relatively modern fleet, with an average age between 7.7 and 8.6 years according to recent reports, though some sources indicate an average age of up to 11 years as of early 2025. The airline emphasizes maintaining a young fleet to benefit from technological advancements and fuel efficiency. Its maintenance is managed through dedicated facilities, upholding industry-leading safety and operational standards.

While Tianjin Airlines has generally maintained a fatality-free record, it has experienced some notable incidents:

  • On June 29, 2012, Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554, an Embraer ERJ-190, experienced a foiled hijacking attempt where passengers and crew successfully subdued the hijackers.
  • In July 2018, an A320 near Wuhan was struck by hail.
  • In May 2019, an A320 departing Tianjin experienced brakes overtemperature.
  • An Embraer ERJ-145 had a temporary runway excursion during landing in Xian in July 2013.
  • Most recently, on July 2, 2025, Tianjin Airlines flight 7833, an Embraer ERJ-195LR, rejected takeoff due to a mechanical failure.

Based on available data, Tianjin Airlines maintains a strong overall safety assessment. It has been recognized with the Flight Safety Award from the Civil Aviation Authority in 2020. Additionally, the airline received the SKYTRAX "Best Regional Airline in China" and "World's 4-Star Airline" in 2011, and the "AirlineRatings International Award – Most Improved Airline" in 2017, along with high rankings for on-time performance. Skytrax currently certifies Tianjin Airlines as a 3-Star Airline for its product and service quality.

Compiled by AirportRoutes.com • Updated 2 months, 1 week ago

Route Network Map

Click on any airport to see its routes

Most Popular Routes

HLD → HET
Hulunbuir Hailar Airport → Hohhot Baita Int'l
697 miles
120 flights
E190
115 flights
E190
CIF → HET
Chifeng Yulong Airport → Hohhot Baita Int'l
374 miles
104 flights
E190
HTN → URC
Hotan Airport → Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
621 miles
81 flights
A320
TGO → HET
Tongliao Airport → Hohhot Baita Int'l
563 miles
65 flights
E190
CIF → HLD
Chifeng Yulong Airport → Hailar Dongshan
490 miles
65 flights
E190
61 flights
E190
BPL → URC
Bole Alashankou Airport → Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
265 miles
58 flights
E190
HMI → XIY
Hami Airport → Xi'an Xianyang Int'l
998 miles
58 flights
E190
XIL → HET
Xilinhot Airport → Hohhot Baita Int'l
299 miles
57 flights
E190

Top Destinations

URC (ZWWW)
Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
535 flights
30 routes
XIY (ZLXY)
Xi'an Xianyang Int'l
Xi'an
482 flights
40 routes
TSN (ZBTJ)
Tianjin Binhai Int'l
Tianjin
462 flights
43 routes
HET (ZBHH)
Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
407 flights
13 routes
CIF (ZBCF)
Chifeng
Chifeng
192 flights
7 routes
HAK (ZJHK)
Haikou Meilan Int'l
Haikou
187 flights
17 routes
KWE (ZUGY)
Guiyang Longdongbao
Guiyang
178 flights
15 routes
HUZ (ZGHZ)
Huizhou Pingtan Airport
Huizhou
155 flights
13 routes
HLD (ZBLA)
Hailar Dongshan
Hailar
149 flights
7 routes
SYX (ZJSY)
Sanya Phoenix Int'l
Hainan
134 flights
9 routes

Top Origin Airports

HLD (ZBLA)
Hulunbuir Hailar Airport
Hailar
463 flights
9 routes
CIF (ZBCF)
Chifeng Yulong Airport
Chifeng
316 flights
12 routes
ZYI (ZUZY)
Zunyi Xinzhou Airport
Zunyi
251 flights
8 routes
HUZ (ZGHZ)
Huizhou Pingtan Airport
Huizhou (Pingtan)
222 flights
18 routes
TGO (ZBTL)
Tongliao Airport
Tongliao
211 flights
9 routes
HET (ZBHH)
Hohhot Baita International Airport
Hohhot
200 flights
17 routes
YIH (ZHYC)
Yichang Sanxia Airport
Yichang (Xiaoting)
182 flights
14 routes
XIL (ZBXH)
Xilinhot Airport
Xilinhot
170 flights
5 routes
YNT (ZSYT)
Yantai Penglai International Airport
Yantai
152 flights
13 routes
WMT (ZUMT)
Zunyi Maotai Airport
Zunyi
150 flights
9 routes

Top Border Crossing Flights

XIY (ZLXY)
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
Xi'an, CN
482 flights
40 routes
TSN (ZBTJ)
Tianjin Binhai International Airport
Tianjin, CN
462 flights
43 routes
KWE (ZUGY)
Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport
Guiyang, CN
178 flights
15 routes

Longest Routes

SYD → CKG
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport → Chongqing Jiangbei Int'l
5278 mi
CKG → SYD
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport → Sydney
5278 mi
LHR → XIY
London Heathrow Airport → Xi'an Xianyang Int'l
5127 mi
XIY → LHR
Xi'an Xianyang International Airport → London Heathrow
5127 mi
CKG → SVO
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport → Sheremetyevo Int'l
3757 mi

Shortest Routes

ZHA → HAK
Zhanjiang Wuchuan Airport → Haikou Meilan Int'l
89 mi
DLC → YNT
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport → Penglai International
95 mi
YNT → DLC
Yantai Penglai International Airport → Dalian Zhoushuizi Int'l
95 mi
DLC → WEH
Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport → Dashuipo
129 mi
WEH → DLC
Weihai Dashuibo Airport → Dalian Zhoushuizi Int'l
129 mi

All Routes

489 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
HLD → HET Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
120 697 mi E190 Feb 6, 2026
HLD → CIF Chifeng
Chifeng
115 490 mi E190 Feb 4, 2026
CIF → HET Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
104 374 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
HTN → URC Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
81 621 mi A320 Feb 3, 2026
TGO → HET Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
65 563 mi E190 Feb 2, 2026
CIF → HLD Hailar Dongshan
Hailar
65 490 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
HLD → BAV Baotou
Baotou
61 766 mi E190 Feb 4, 2026
BPL → URC Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
58 265 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
HMI → XIY Xi'an Xianyang Int'l
Xi'an
58 998 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
XIL → HET Hohhot Baita Int'l
Hohhot
57 299 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
TGO → XIL Xilinhot
Xilinhot
56 313 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
IQN → TSN Tianjin Binhai Int'l
Tianjin
49 582 mi E190 Jan 28, 2026
ZYI → XIY Xi'an Xianyang Int'l
Xi'an
49 485 mi A320 Feb 4, 2026
BAV → HLD Hailar Dongshan
Hailar
48 766 mi E190 Feb 3, 2026
HLD → HLH Ulanhot
Ulanhot
47 232 mi E190 Feb 4, 2026
ACX → KWE Guiyang Longdongbao
Guiyang
46 149 mi E190 Feb 6, 2026
HLD → JGD Jiagedaqi
Jiagedaqi
45 208 mi E190 Feb 6, 2026
YNT → DLC Dalian Zhoushuizi Int'l
Dalian
44 95 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
ZYI → HAK Haikou Meilan Int'l
Haikou
44 573 mi E190 Feb 2, 2026
HUZ → CGO Zhengzhou Xinzheng Int'l
Zhengzhou
44 795 mi A320 Feb 6, 2026
KHG → URC Urumqi Diwopu Int'l
Urumqi
44 663 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
XIL → TSN Tianjin Binhai Int'l
Tianjin
43 339 mi E190 Feb 2, 2026
WMT → HAK Haikou Meilan Int'l
Haikou
43 604 mi E190 Feb 4, 2026
XIL → TGO Tongliao
Tongliao
41 313 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
JNG → UYN Yulin
Yulin
37 420 mi E190 Feb 5, 2026
Data Information:

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.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Feb 7, 2026 00:09
Coverage: Observed routes only