Xiamen Airlines
China · XIAMEN AIR · Active
Airline Identity
History
XiamenAir was established on 25 July 1984 as a joint venture between the Shanghai Civil Aviation Administration, the Xiamen Special Economic Zone Construction Development Company, and Fujian Investment Enterprise Company, making it the first airline in China to operate as an independent enterprise rather than a direct arm of the state aviation administration. It began flying in 1985 with wet-leased Boeing 737 aircraft and grew steadily into one of China's most consistently profitable carriers, building a reputation for punctuality and service quality. China Southern Airlines became its majority shareholder over time, and on 21 November 2012 XiamenAir became the 19th member of the SkyTeam alliance, the second mainland Chinese carrier to join after China Southern. The airline, commonly branded XiamenAir, has continued to expand its Boeing and Airbus fleet and network from its home base in Fujian province.
Current Operations
XiamenAir operates a fleet (including subsidiaries Jiangxi Airlines and Hebei Airlines) of around 150-160 aircraft, including Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 narrowbodies, Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and Airbus A321neo family jets. It flies more than 320 domestic and international routes carrying roughly 25 million passengers a year, with its primary hub at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and additional operating bases in Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing. As a SkyTeam member majority-owned by China Southern Airlines, it maintains close codeshare ties with fellow alliance carriers, and it continues modernizing its fleet with 787 and A321neo deliveries to support both domestic growth and expanding international long-haul routes.
Last verified 2026-08-22· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.