Great Wall Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline = Great Wall Airlines

logo_size =
fleet_size = 3
destinations = 9
IATA = IJ
ICAO = GWL
callsign = GREAT WALL
parent = China Great Wall Industry Corporation
company_slogan =
founded = 2006
headquarters = Shanghai, People's Republic of China
key_people =
hubs =
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
website = http://www.gwairlines.com/

Great Wall Airlines Company Limited is a cargo airline based in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. It operates cargo services to Europe and Asia. Its main base is Beijing Capital International Airport, with a hub at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 88 | date= 2007-04-03]

History

The airline launched its first flight from Shanghai to Amsterdam on 1 June 2006 with an initial frequency of six flights per week, becoming the first local-foreign partnership airline to take flight in China [ [http://www.cargonewsasia.com/ecna/preview.aspx?article=2938 Cargo News Asia] ] . Flights to Singapore, Chennai and Mumbai were planned to be launched next. [ [http://www.siacargo.com/news230606.asp Singapore Airlines Cargo news] 23 June 2006]

It was co-owned by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (51%), Singapore Airlines Cargo (25%), and Dahlia Investments (24%), a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings based in Singapore. [ [http://www.siacargo.com/news190505.asp Singapore Airlines Cargo news] 19 May 2005]

The airline suspended operations on 18 August 2006 after its parent company, China Great Wall Industry, had sanctions imposed on it by the United States Department of the Treasury for allegedly supplying missile technology to Iran. All aircraft were returned to Singapore Airlines Cargo. On 13 December 2006, it was announced that sanctions against Great Wall Airlines had been lifted, and that the airline would resume service in February 2007 . The airline has resumed scheduled services to Amsterdam (six times weekly), Incheon (six times weekly) and Mumbai/Chennai (three times weekly). As of April 30, 2007 Great Wall Airlines have also launched scheduled service to Manchester via Amsterdam (two times weekly). Fact|date=June 2007

Destinations

Great Wall Airlines operates flights to 9 destinations in 6 countries. [ [http://www.gwairlines.com/manage/uploads/NS%202008(30%20Mar-31%20May).pdf Great Wall Airlines Summer 2008 Flight Schedule] PDF format]

Europe

*Amsterdam (Schiphol Airport)
*Manchester (Manchester Airport)

Far East

*Beijing (Beijing Airport)
*Seoul (Incheon International Airport)
*Shanghai (Shanghai Pudong International Airport) , Hub
*Tianjin (Tianjin Binhai International Airport)

India

*Chennai (Chennai International Airport)
*Mumbai (Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport)

Middle East & Pakistan

*Dubai (Dubai International Airport)
*Karachi (Jinnah International Airport)

USA

*Chicago (O'Hare International Airport) (1 June 2008) [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1397576/great_wall_airlines_appoints_wallace_air_cargo_as_north_american/index.html Great Wall Airlines USA Expansion] ]
*Seattle (Seattle Airport) (1 June 2008)

Fleet

As of May 2008 the Great Wall Airlines fleet includes: [ [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=GWA&al_op=1 GWA Fleet] ]

The airline operates two Boeing 747-400 freighters, on lease from Singapore Airlines Cargo. The aircraft were returned to Singapore Airlines Cargo and operated in an SIA Cargo/Great Wall hybrid livery when operations were suspended. Upon resumption of flight operations, the aircraft returned to Shanghai in full Great Wall Airlines livery. Fact|date=February 2007 As of April 2007 a third 747-400 was introduced [http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=Great+Wall+Airlines&where=116863&luck= Aerotransport.org] ]

External links

* [http://www.gwairlines.com Great Wall Airlines]

References