Spring Airlines

Infobox_Airline
airline=Spring Airlines
春秋航空公司
"Chūnqīu Hángkōng Gōngsī"

logo_size=
fleet_size=8
destinations=23
IATA=9C
ICAO=CQH
callsign=AIR SPRING
parent=Spring Airlines Ltd.
founded=2004
headquarters=Shanghai, China
key_people=Wang Zhenghua
hubs=Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
focus_cities=Sanya Phoenix International Airport
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website=http://www.china-sss.com/

Spring Airlines (zh-cp|c=春秋航空|p=Chūnqiū Hángkōng; abbreviated 春航) is a low-cost airline based in Shanghai, China. It is the first low-cost airline in China. While the company has adopted the English name "Spring Airlines", the Chinese characters literally mean "Spring and Autumn Airlines". It was given the approval to be established on 26 May, 2004, and started operations on 18 July, 2005.

History

The airline took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 (formerly of Lotus Air), on 12 July, 2005, at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. It started operations with a flight between Shanghai and Yantai on 18 July, 2005. Daily flights to Guilin were also initiated. Spring Airlines is the aviation subsidiary of the Shanghai Spring International Travel Service.

To keep operating costs low, Spring sells tickets exclusively from its website and offers no complimentary on-board meals, but only bottled water on flights. However, customers can still purchase meals on board. In December 2006, the airline offered a 1-yuan promotional price which caused trouble with government officials"China's Spring Airlines", "Aviation Week & Space Technology", January 1 2007.] .

In early 2007, the airline announced a 2006 net profit of CNY20 million ($2.6 million) on revenue exceeding CNY500 million. It also revealed its intention to seek financial investors. In 2004, a proposal by Singapore Airlines to acquire a 40 per cent stake had been rejected [ [http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=8841 Air Transport World] 9 May 2007] .

Destinations

*
**Chongqing
***Chongqing (Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)
**Fujian
***Xiamen (Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport)
**Guangdong
***Guangzhou (Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport)
***Zhuhai (Zhuhai Sanzao Airport)
**Hainan
***Haikou (Haikou Meilan International Airport)
***Sanya (Sanya Phoenix International Airport)
**Heilongjiang
***Harbin (Harbin Taiping International Airport)
**Henan
***Zhengzhou (Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport)
**Hunan
***Changde (Changde Airport)
***Changsha (Changsha Huanghua International Airport)
**Liaoning
***Dalian (Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport)
***Shenyang (Shenyang Taoxian International Airport)
**Shandong
***Qingdao (Qingdao Liuting International Airport)
**Shanghai
***Shanghai
****(Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport) Main Hub
**Shanxi
***Taiyuan (Taiyuan Wusu Airport)
**Sichuan
***Mianyang(Mianyang Airport)
**Xinjiang
***Ürümqi (Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport)
**Zhejiang
***Wenzhou (Wenzhou Yongqiang Airport)

Fleet

The Spring Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft as of March 2008:

*8 Airbus A320-200 First aircraft SU LBD rerestered B6250

External links

* [http://www.china-sss.com/ Spring Airlines]
* [http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Spring-Airlines Spring Airlines fleet details]

References