Shandong Airlines
China · SHANDONG · Active
Airline Identity
History
Shandong Airlines was established on 12 March 1994 and began flying that September with a single domestically built Xi'an Y-7-100 turboprop, making it one of China's first wave of provincial carriers formed as the country's aviation sector decentralized in the early 1990s. Headquartered in Jinan, the airline joined five other regional Chinese carriers in 1997 to form the New Star Aviation Alliance, a domestic cooperation framework distinct from the global alliances. It launched its first international route, connecting Jinan to Singapore via Shenzhen, in 2004 — the same year Air China acquired a significant strategic stake that remains in place today alongside controlling shareholder Shandong Aviation Group. Over the following two decades the carrier transitioned to an all-Boeing narrowbody fleet, and in 2014 it committed to a major order for 50 Boeing 737s to support continued growth. Shandong Airlines remains independently branded and operated, though it is strategically and commercially aligned with Air China.
Current Operations
Shandong Airlines operates a fleet of roughly 140 aircraft, almost entirely Boeing 737-700/800/MAX 8 narrowbodies plus a handful of freighters, with further 737 MAX jets and Comac C909 regional aircraft on order to diversify its fleet. The carrier serves around 70-plus destinations concentrated across mainland China, with a growing set of international routes into East and Southeast Asia. Jinan and Qingdao function as its two primary hubs, with Beijing, Chongqing, Xiamen, and Yantai serving as additional focus cities. It ranks among China's larger domestic airlines and continues expanding its regional international network while maintaining close ties to strategic shareholder Air China.
Last verified 2026-08-22· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.