Wuhan Airlines
| Company type | Defunct |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | May 1986 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Merged into China Eastern Airlines |
| Headquarters | Wuhan , People's Republic of China |
Area served | Domestic China |
| Products | Air transport services |
| Parent | China Eastern Airlines (40% ownership from 2002) |
Wuhan Airlines (S: 武汉航空, T: 武漢航空, P: Wǔhàn Hángkōng) was an airline based in Wuhan, People's Republic of China. In 2003, it was absorbed into China Eastern Airlines.
History
Established in May 1986 during the period of China's economic reforms, Wuhan Airlines became a member of the Xinxing Alliance in September 1997, joining forces with regional airlines such as Hainan Airlines and Shandong Airlines. By 1999, the airline had placed orders for two Boeing 737-800 aircraft scheduled for delivery after 2001 and planned to add five Boeing 717-200 jets to its fleet.
In April 2001, Wuhan Airlines collaborated with other carriers including China Postal Airlines and Shanghai Airlines to create "China Sky Aviation Enterprises," a strategic alliance designed to prevent takeover attempts by major airlines like Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. Subsequently, in June 2001, Wuhan Airlines signed a contract to acquire Embraer ERJ-145 planes.
By March 2002, China Eastern Airlines had purchased a 40% ownership interest in Wuhan Airlines. The airline discontinued independent operations in August of the same year and was fully merged into China Eastern Airlines.
Destinations
In 1999, Wuhan Airlines operated flights to numerous domestic locations across China, including key urban centers such as Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, with its primary hub at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. The route network encompassed important regional airports, facilitating broad domestic coverage.
Partner airlines
To enhance its route network and operational capabilities, Wuhan Airlines maintained partnerships with several Chinese carriers, including:
- China Postal Airlines
- Hainan Airlines
- Shandong Airlines
- Shanghai Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Sichuan Airlines
- Zhongyuan Airlines
Fleet as of 2002
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 717-200 | — | 5 | Planned fleet expansion |
| Boeing 737-300 | 6 | — | Primary short- to medium-haul aircraft |
| Boeing 737-800 | 2 | — | New generation narrow-body jets |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | — | 5 | Regional jet acquisitions for network growth |
| Xi'an MA60 | 3 | — | Leased turboprops for regional services |
| Xi'an Y-7 | 6 | — | Existing turboprop fleet serving short routes |
| Total | 17 | 10 |
The composition of the fleet combined Boeing narrow-body aircraft for mainline routes alongside regional turboprop and jet aircraft aimed at servicing secondary markets, reflecting a focus on domestic expansion and regional accessibility.
Fleet history
- Four Avia 14 aircraft with registrations B-4209, B-4210, B-4211, B-4212 (with B-4211 involved in a crash near Lanzhou on 8 October 1992)
- Two Boeing 737-36R models registered as B-2969 and B-2988
- Three Boeing 737-3Q8 units registered B-2918, B-2919, B-2928
- One Boeing 737-3S3 registered B-2976
- Two Boeing 737-86R aircraft bearing registrations B-2660 and B-2665
- Five Yunshuji Y-7 turboprops registered as B-3442, B-3443, B-3471, B-3472, and B-3479
- Three Xian MA60 turboprops with registrations B-3430, B-3431, and B-3432 (later repainted in China Eastern Airlines livery)
Accidents and incidents
- On October 8, 1992, Wuhan Airlines Flight 4211, operating between Lanzhou and X'ian, crashed while attempting to return to Lanzhou following an engine malfunction. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities out of the 35 individuals onboard, including 5 crew members and 9 passengers.
- On June 22, 2000, Flight 343 of Wuhan Airlines, traveling from Enshi to Wuhan, went down along the Han River banks in Hanyang District after circling due to severe thunderstorms. The crash claimed the lives of everyone onboard as well as 7 people on the ground.