China Xinjiang Airlines
| Company type | State-owned enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Merged into China Southern Airlines |
| Headquarters | Ürümqi , China |
Area served | China, Central Asia, Russia |
Key people | Zhang Ruifu (President) |
| Products | Passenger air transport |
Number of employees | 4,597 (2000) |
| Parent | CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) |
China Xinjiang Airlines () was an airline from China, owned by the CAAC, with its main base located at Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport in Ürümqi, Xinjiang. It also operated a secondary hub at Changzhou Benniu International Airport situated in Changzhou, within Jiangsu province.
In 2003, the airline was consolidated into China Southern Airlines.
History
Originating as a branch of the CAAC Xinjiang Regional Authority, the airline commenced its services on . In late 1993, it became the pioneer Chinese carrier to operate ATR aircraft, acquiring five 72-seat ATR 72s that had been ordered earlier that year.
By April 1995, ownership was equally divided between CAAC and Xinjiang Province. At that time, its fleet consisted of two Antonov An-24s, two DHC-6 Twin Otters, one Ilyushin Il-86, eight SAP Y-8s, and six Tupolev Tu-154Ms.
Under the leadership of President Zhang Ruifu by the year 2000, the company employed 4,597 personnel and operated flights to 35 destinations, including prominent cities such as Almaty, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Moscow. The introduction of Boeing 737-400 aircraft occurred in 2001 on a newly launched route linking Urumqi with Hong Kong.
Following regulatory approval in October 2002, China Southern Airlines absorbed China Xinjiang Airlines along with China Northern Airlines. The airline’s domestic operations saw the replacement of its IATA code ″XO″ by CZ in early 2003.
Fleet
Throughout its operation, China Xinjiang Airlines managed a varied fleet comprising:
| Aircraft | Quantity | Year Introduced | Year Retired | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 72-500 | 5 | 1997 | 2003 | Transferred to China Southern Airlines |
| Antonov An-24RV | 2 | Template:Unknown | Template:Unknown | |
| Boeing 737-300 | 2 | 1993 | 2003 | Both aircraft transferred to China Southern Airlines |
| Boeing 737-400 | Template:Unknown | Template:Unknown | Template:Unknown | |
| Boeing 737-700 | 4 | 2001 | 2003 | Transferred to China Southern Airlines |
| Boeing 757-200 | 9 | 1997 | 2003 | Transferred to China Southern Airlines |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter | 2 | Template:Unknown | Template:Unknown | |
| Ilyushin Il-86 | 1 | 1993 | 2003 | |
| Tupolev Tu-154M | 6 | 1986 | 2001 | |
| Shaanxi Y-8 | 8 | Template:Unknown | Template:Unknown |
External links
- Xinjiang Branch – part of China Southern Airlines