In order to develop the local economy and aviation industry, in September 1990, the Shaanxi provincial government and local aircraft manufacturers began planning for a local airline, to operate with three Xian Y-7 aircraft. On 2 March 1992, the provincial government named the airline as Air Changan. On 11 April 1992, Air Changan was formally founded, merging Dapeng Airlines in to the new entity. On 5 January 1993, the first flight of Air Changan operated, from Xi'an to Yulin. Then was transfer to be operated by the provincial government only, after the aircraft manufacturers left the venture due to new regulations coming into effect.[citation needed]
On 30 August 2000, Air Changan was purchased by Hainan Airlines (HNA) and renamed Chang An Airlines. On 1 July 2002, the first Boeing 737-400 was put into operation. In October 2002, Chang An Airlines, Xinhua Airlines and Shanxi Airlines were merged into Hainan Airlines.[citation needed]
In December 2015, HNA Group began talks with the Shaanxi provincial government regarding the restoration of Chang An Airlines as an independent carrier. The airline would return to its original focus of flights within and out of Shaanxi Province.[1] The airline rebranded as its original name and unveiled its own livery.[2] After receiving its air operator certificate in April 2016,[2] Air Changan resumed operations as an independent airline the following month on 9 May. The inaugural flight was from Xi'an to Zhuhai. During the customary water salute upon arrival in Zhuhai, the fire engines accidentally sprayed foam instead. As a result, the aircraft had to undergo a safety check, and the return flight was cancelled.[3]
Corporate affairs
Hainan Airlines holds an 83.3% stake in the airline, up 21.9% following a 1.01 billion yuan share purchase in September 2015.[4]
Three of the airline's Boeing 737-800s parked in a row in 2016. The aircraft furthest away wears Air Changan titles, while the middle of the three wears Chang An Airlines titles.An Air Changan Boeing 737-800 in 2012, wearing the pre–Hainan Airlines merger livery
Current fleet
As of December 2022, Air Changan operates the following aircraft:[5][6]
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