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| Founded | 2004 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs | Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport | |||
| Focus cities | Shenyang Taoxian International Airport | |||
| Fleet size | 26 | |||
| Destinations | 23 | |||
| Parent company | Spring Airlines Ltd. | |||
| Headquarters | Shanghai, China | |||
| Key people | Wang Zhenghua | |||
| Website | www.springairlines.com | |||
Spring Airlines (Chinese: 春秋航空; pinyin: Chūnqiū Hángkōng; abbreviated 春航) is a budget airline with its headquarters in the Homeyo Hotel (航友宾馆 Hángyǒu Bīnguǎn) in Changning District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.[1][2] While the company adopted the English name "Spring Airlines", the Chinese characters literally mean "Spring and Autumn Airlines".
Spring Airlines is the aviation subsidiary of Shanghai Spring International Travel Service. It is China's only low-cost airline.[3]
Spring Airlines reported a net profit of 470 million yuan ($71.2 million) in 2010.[4]
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The airline was given approval to be established on 26 May 2004, It took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 (formerly of Lotus Air), on 12 July 2005, at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Spring Airlines started operations on 18 July 2005 and the first flight on that day was between Shanghai and Yantai. Daily flights to Guilin were also initiated.
To keep operating costs low, Spring sells tickets exclusively from its springairlines.com website (and some designated ticket offices), bypassing online travel agents such as cTrip. Spring no longer offers complimentary on-board meals nor complimentary water; however passengers are able to purchase meals and beverages on board. In December 2006, the airline offered a 1-yuan promotional price which caused trouble with government officials.[5]
In late July 2009, Spring's plan to establish overseas routes was granted by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of the People's Republic of China, making it the first budget airline in China to explore the international market. The airline plans to operate short-distance routes linking mainland Chinese cities to Hong Kong and Macau, as well as neighboring countries such as Japan, South Korea and Russia.[6]
On July 29, 2010, Spring Airlines launched its first international route linking its home city Shanghai and Japan's Ibaraki Airport, about 80 kilometers northeast of Tokyo.[7] 2 months later, on September 28, the airline successfully introduced its first flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong with almost full passengers on board.[8] Spring's daily flights from Shanghai to Macau commenced on 8 April 2011[9] with further international destinations expected to follow in the second half of 2011.
The airline is now preparing for a listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in an effort to fuel its expansion.[10]
Spring Airlines serve the following at January 2012:
As of December 2011, the Spring Airlines fleet consists of 27 Airbus A320-200 with 5 on order, each of which provides space for 174 passengers in an all-economy class cabin layout. Average fleet age of the airline is 4.4 Years. [11]
| Average Daily Year |
Domestic | International | Total |
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| 2010 | |||
| 2011 |
| Average Daily Year |
Domestic | International | Total |
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| 2010 | |||
| 2011 |
| Year | Domestic | International | Total |
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| 2010 | |||
| 2011 |
| Year | Domestic | International | Total |
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| 2010 | |||
| 2011 |
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