Spring Airlines

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Spring Airlines
春秋航空公司
Chūnqīu Hángkōng Gōngsī
IATA
9C		 ICAO
CQH		 Callsign
AIR SPRING
Founded 2004
Hubs Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Focus cities Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport
Fleet size 39
Destinations 34
Parent company Spring Airlines Ltd.
Headquarters Shanghai, China
Key people Wang Zhenghua[1]
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, China.[2][3] 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 no frills airline.[4]

Spring Airlines reported a net profit of 470 million yuan ($71.2 million) in 2010.[5]

History and Development

Spring Airlines A320-200

The airline was given approval to be established on 26 May 2004. Its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 (formerly of Lotus Air), was delivered 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 travel agents. 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8] 2 months later, on September 28, the airline successfully introduced its first flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong with almost full passengers on board.[9] Spring's daily flights from Shanghai to Macau commenced on 8 April 2011[10] with further international destinations following 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.[11]

Spring Airlines announced in 2011 that it had plans to establish a subsidiary in Japan; it would be the first Chinese airline to do so.[12] Spring was required to find one or more local partners due to Japanese legal restrictions that would limit its investment to a minority stake.[13] Spring Airlines Japan originally planned to begin operations in autumn 2013 but has delayed this to 2014.[14]

The Spring Airlines corporate logo is known as a triple spiral or triskelion in Western semiotics.

Destinations

Spring Airlines serves the following destinations:

 China
Shanghai
Beijing
Tianjin
Chongqing
Hebei
Henan
Shandong
Hunan
Zhejiang
Jiangsu
Fujian
Guangdong
Guangxi
Hainan
Sichuan
Guizhou
Yunnan
Xinjiang
Gansu
Shaanxi
Inner Mongolia
Heilongjiang
Jilin
Liaoning
 Hong Kong
 Macau
 Cambodia
 Japan
 Malaysia
 Taiwan
 Thailand
 South Korea

Fleet

As of December 2013, the average fleet age of the airline is 4 Years.[15]

 Spring Airlines
Aircraft In fleet Order Passengers
Airbus A320 39 1 180


References

  1. ↑ "Spring Air Considers Hong Kong Hub in Cathay Pacific Challenge". Bangkok Post. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Spring Airlines Business Office & Airport Ticket Office." Spring Airlines. Retrieved on February 13, 2011. "Spring Airlines Head Office: [...] Mailing Address: Spring Airlines Customer Service Center. 4th Floor, Building No.3, Homeyo Hotel, No.2550 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai 200335 ." Address in Chinese: "邮寄地址：上海市虹桥路2550号航友宾馆3号楼4楼春秋航空股份有限公司客户服务中心"
  3. ↑ Home. Homeyo Hotel. Retrieved on February 13, 2011. "上海市迎宾一路425号"
  4. ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-26/spring-air-s-instant-noodle-eating-ceo-tackles-cathay-on-shanghai-route.html
  5. ↑ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-01/14/content_11855569.htm
  6. ↑ "China's Spring Airlines", Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 1, 2007.
  7. ↑ CCTV English 30 July 2009
  8. ↑ July 29. 2010
  9. ↑ October 8, 2010
  10. ↑ 12 April 2011
  11. ↑ February 15, 2010
  12. ↑ Wang, Ying (30 August 2011). "Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion". China Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2013. 
  13. ↑ Sanders, Fay (30 September 2011). "Spring Airlines on hunt for JV partner and first five narrowbodies". Ascend. Retrieved 2 September 2013. 
  14. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan approved, delays launch to 2014: report". CAPA. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013. 
  15. ↑ http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Spring-Airlines

External links

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