China United Airlines (CUA) is a low-cost airline and a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. It is headquartered at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing. In 2019, the painted aircraft of China United Airlines won Top 1 at the World Classic Aircraft Award.

History

China United Airlines was established in 1986 as an arm of the civil transport division of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. In November 2002, all scheduled services were ceased, followed by a full suspension of flight operations in 2003 due to a Chinese governmental regulation prohibiting the Army from being directly involved in commercial activities. On June 4, 2005, the Civil Aviation Administration of China approved the relaunch of the airline, now with Shanghai Airlines holding 80 percent of the stake, as well as China Aviation Supplies Holding Company as a secondary shareholder. Even though China United Airlines has since then lost its military status, it is uniquely still permitted to use military air bases as destinations, in contrast to other Chinese airlines and other airlines in general. In 2000, China United Airlines spent US$120 million to buy a Boeing 767-300ER, which was previously ordered by Delta Air Lines, as Jiang Zemin's private jet. Several days before its first flight, covert listening devices were found installed in the toilet, corridor, and even in Jiang's headboard. The devices were believed to be controlled and monitored by satellite. The Central Intelligence Agency, the United States Embassy in China, and China United Airlines refused to comment on this incident. The specific aircraft was sold to Air China. It operate for over a decade in Air China's fleet and was sold to the Sunday Airlines of Kazakhstan in 2014 after its retirement. China United Airlines was acquired by China Eastern Airlines in October 2010. With the opening of the Beijing Daxing International Airport on 26 September 2019, China United Airlines began service at the new airport as its main hub and ceased service from Beijing Nanyuan Airport, which was its main operating base for 35 years.

Corporate

The headquarters is on the grounds of Beijing Daxing International Airport in Daxing, Beijing. Previously the headquarters were in Fengtai. The customer service center is in Xinhua, Shijiazhuang, Hebei.

Destinations

Fleet

, China United Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet composed of the following aircraft: The airline previously operated the following aircraft:

Special liveries

China United Airlines has a total of 7 special livery aircraft in service, all of which are named after cities in China: