China United
China · Active
Airline Identity
History
China United Airlines traces its origins to the mid-1980s (commonly dated to 1986) as a carrier affiliated with the People's Liberation Army Air Force's civil transport arm, giving it an unusual status among Chinese carriers, including continued use of some military airfields. The airline suspended scheduled commercial services around 2002-2003 amid tightened government restrictions on military involvement in civil aviation, then relaunched in June 2005 with Shanghai Airlines taking a controlling stake. It became part of the China Eastern Airlines group when China Eastern acquired Shanghai Airlines in 2010, and it relocated its main base from the long-used Beijing Nanyuan Airport to the newly opened Beijing Daxing International Airport in September 2019.
Current Operations
China United Airlines operates as a low-cost subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, flying an all-Boeing 737 fleet (a mix of 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft) on domestic Chinese routes plus a small number of international services, reported to include destinations in Russia and Laos. Its primary base is Beijing Daxing International Airport, and it retains the distinctive ability to serve certain military-linked airfields that other Chinese carriers cannot use.
Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.