Airline Chronological History
Like many of the major Chinese airlines, China Eastern can trace it's origins when the China Civil Aviation Administration (CCAC) was formed on November 2, 1949, about a month after the creation of the People's Republic of China. CCAC was started with the scattered administration, personnel and aircraft left behind as airlines sponsored by anti-communist Chinese and American interests fled to Taiwan to escape the Communists. At first, the CAAC was dependent on Soviet support. It operated, for the most part, Soviet-designed aircraft during the Cold War, except for a few leftover American designs and a few modern turboprops and jets bought from Great Britain in 1961. It bought more Western aircraft in the 1970s, including some British Trident jets in 1971 and ten Boeing 707s in 1972.
CAAC Airlines was the predecessor of all Chinese airlines, including China Eastern, operating with Boeing 707 aircraft in 1972. (Photo:c1.staticflickr.com) By the time it was disassembled in 1984, the CAAC, did it’s best in providing western levels of service, that is, concerning the types of aircraft used on international routes. The carrier even had bought a few Boeing 747 wide body jets, which were placed in service to Paris, San Francisco, and New York. After 25 years without a reported accident, a string of fatal crashes in the late 1970s gave impetus to modernizing the airline's operations. In late 1984, CAAC was divided into one international carrier (Air China) and four regional airlines-- Southern, Southwestern, Northwestern, and Eastern, based in Shanghai. Two of the regionals, China Southern and China Eastern, were allowed to fly abroad because of the commercial importance of their home bases, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Both soon developed into major airlines in their own right.
After a few years of consolidation, China Eastern Airlines was established on 25 June 1988 under the Civil Aviation Administration of China. CAAC Airlines was divided up into a number of individual air carriers, each named after the region of China where it had its hub. Since then, CAAC acts solely as a government agency and no longer provides commercial flight service. It's first aircraft to be operated under the new name of China Eastern were Airbus A310-300, British Aerospace BAe-146-100 and McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft.
In 1988 China Eastern Airlines begun operating with Airbus A310 as some of it's first aircraft. (Photo:airlinersgallery.smugmug.com) 
Short haul routes were operated with MD-82 aircraft at the beginning in 1988. (Photo:Planespotters.net) In 1991, China Eastern carried up to 8,000 passengers a day on a total of 70 routes, including flights to several Japanese destinations and Seattle and Los Angeles in the United States. In 1992 it ordered five Airbus A340s and received Fokker 100. In June, the airline launched its first European route with service from Brussels, originating in Shanghai with stops in Beijing and Bahrain. A route to Madrid followed the next spring, in 1993. It also received in 1993 Airbus A300 aircraft for high demand domestic routes.
In 1994 it began flying to Seoul, in the Republic of Korea. It operated 41 aircraft at the time. The Airbus A340-300 arrived in 1996 and helped to replace older types and increase capacity on routes to Madrid for example.
In 1996 the airline received it's A340-300 for long haul international flights. (Photo:flickr.com) In 1997, China Eastern took over the unprofitable China General Aviation and also became the country's first airline to offer shares on the international market. This year it also received the MD-90. In 1998 it founded China Cargo Airlines in a joint venture with COSCO. It also received Boeing 737-300 in the year 1998. In March 2001, it completed the takeover of Great Wall Airlines. China Yunnan Airlines and China Northwest Airlines merged into China Eastern Airlines in 2003.
During 2003 it upgraded its Airbus fleet with the introduction of the bigger Airbus A340-600, at the same time, it purchased Boeing 767-300ER and for domestic routes incorporated the British Aerospace BAe-146-300.
China Eastern introduced the B767-300ER in 2003. (Photo:airliners.net) 
The thinner domestic routes were operated with British Aerospace BAe-146-300 jets from 2003. (Photo:jetphotos.com) During 2004, the airline acquired the Bombardier CRJ-200ER and Embraer ERJ-145 for regional routes.In 2005, China Eastern Airlines initially placed an order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners but with continuous delays, it cancelled and instead it ordered Boeing 737 Next Generation and acquired Airbus A330 for it's long haul operation, which joined in 2007.
At the time, the Chinese government had a majority ownership stake in China Eastern Airlines (61.64%). On 20 April 2006 the media broke the news of a possible sale of up to 20% of its stake to foreign investors, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Japan Airlines, with Singapore Airlines confirming that negotiations were underway. After receiving approval from the State Council of China, it was announced that on 2 September 2007 Singapore Airlines would jointly acquire shares of China Eastern Airlines. However, Singapore Airlines' pending entry into the Chinese market prompted the Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific to attempt to block the deal by buying a significant stake in China Eastern and voting down the deal together with Air China. Then Air China's parent company, announced in January 2008 that it would offer 32% more than Singapore Airlines for the 24% stake in China Eastern. This made Singapore Airlines back away from the initial deal.
On 11 June 2009, it was announced that China Eastern Airlines would merge with Shanghai Airlines. In February 2010 the merger was completed. Shanghai Airlines became a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. However, Shanghai Airlines retained its brand and livery. The new combined airline was expected to have over half of the market share in Shanghai, the financial hub of China.
In 2004 China Eastern operated the CRJ-200 for thin domestic routes in China. (Photo:Planespotters.net) China Eastern and its subsidiary Shanghai Airlines became the 14th member of SkyTeam on 21 June 2011, and one year later it was awarded the “Golden Ting Award” at the China Capital Market Annual Conference 2012. On 18 October 2011, China Eastern Airlines placed an order for 15 Airbus A330s.
In April 2013, China Eastern got a temporary permit to operate in the Philippines. On September 9, 2014, China Eastern introduced a new logo and new livery. Later, in September 2014, the airline received it’s first of 20 Boeing 777-300ERs, which it placed back in 2012.
Operating the Airbus A330 since 2007, its the backbone of the long haul fleet of China Eastern. (Photo:wikimedia.org) 
Since 2014, the Boeing 777-300ER has provided the long haul links for the airline to main worldwide cities. (Photo:airliners.net) In 2015, the airline entered a partnership with Delta Air Lines in which Delta will buy a 3.55% share in China Eastern. Also in 2015 the airline announced plans to acquire a further 15 Airbus A330. In 2016, China Eastern Airlines announced its plans to introduce new cabin products for its Airbus A330-300 aircraft, the Vantage XL model from Thompson Aero lie-flat Business Class seat and new Economy Class seats with extra legroom.
Following on its expansion plans in 2016, China Eastern Airlines ordered new long-haul aircraft, 20 Airbus A350-900XWB and 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery from 2018 and will offer a four-class configuration, including a new Premium Economy Class.
In May 2017, China Eastern Airlines received its first of the 15 Airbus A330 aircraft ordered in 2015. With a strong presence on routes in Asia, North America and Australia, the airline expected to add more international routes for its growing network. November 2018, China received it's first Boeing Dreamliner 787-9, it deployed the aircraft on its routes to North America. The same month the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900.
The newest aircraft type for China Eastern joined in 2018, the Boeing 787-9 for trans-oceanic flights. (Photo:jetphotos.com) 
In November 2018 China Eastern also took delivery of the first A350-900. (Photo:jetphotos.com) In 2018, the airline continued expanding long-haul services from Shanghai and secondary hubs such as Kunming and Xi’an, strengthening routes to North America, Europe and Oceania. That year, it further integrated its strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines, which had taken an equity stake in China Eastern in 2015. China Eastern also expanded European links, increasing its services to Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome and London. Fleet modernization was central to its strategy: the airline continued taking deliveries of Airbus A320 family aircraft for domestic and regional services, Airbus A330s for medium- and long-haul operations, and Boeing 737-800s aircraft for short-haul expansion.
During 2018, China Eastern continued to receive Boeing 737-800 to further expand its domestic operations. (Photo: planespotters.net) A defining milestone occurred in June 2019 when China Eastern officially joined the SkyTeam global alliance.
On February 26, 2020, China Eastern Airlines launched OTT Airlines as a subsidiary to operate domestically produced aircraft, such as the Comac C919 and Comac ARJ21.
The rapid expansion trajectory was abruptly interrupted in early 2020 by the outbreak of COVID-19. As the pandemic spread globally, China Eastern drastically reduced international capacity, suspending most long-haul operations by March 2020. International traffic fell to a fraction of pre-pandemic levels due to border closures and China’s strict entry controls. The airline pivoted toward domestic operations, where China’s internal market recovered more quickly than most global markets. China Eastern reallocated widebody aircraft to high-demand domestic trunk routes such as Shanghai–Beijing, Shanghai–Guangzhou and Shanghai–Shenzhen, and increased cargo operations to offset lost passenger revenue.
Financially, the pandemic years from 2020 through 2022 were challenging. The airline reported significant losses due to prolonged international restrictions and fluctuating domestic demand. Nevertheless, China Eastern continued to accept deliveries of new aircraft, albeit at adjusted rates, including Airbus A320neo family aircraft to improve efficiency on domestic and regional routes. The airline also committed to China’s domestically developed COMAC C919 narrowbody jet, becoming one of its launch customers with entry into service in 2023 of the C919.
2023 marked the beginning of recovery as China gradually lifted its zero-COVID policies. International routes were progressively reinstated as border controls eased in early 2023. China Eastern resumed services to major long-haul destinations including New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney and Tokyo. The airline also restored and expanded regional routes across East and Southeast Asia, including Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
A historic milestone occurred in December 2022 when China Eastern became the world’s first airline to place the COMAC C919 into commercial service. The aircraft entered scheduled passenger operations in May 2023 on routes from Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing Capital and later to Chengdu and other domestic destinations. Additional C919 deliveries followed through 2024 and 2025, gradually integrating into high-frequency domestic networks.
December 2022, saw the milestone of the first delivery to China Eastern of the Chinese built Comac C919. (Photo: jetphotos.com). Fleet strategy during the recovery period emphasized modernization and efficiency. China Eastern expanded its Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet, enhancing fuel savings and reducing emissions. The Airbus A350 fleet continued to grow and became the backbone of premium long-haul routes. Some older Airbus A330 variants and earlier A320 family aircraft were progressively retired or redeployed as part of cost-control measures. The airline also managed the reintroduction of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into service following regulatory approvals in China in 2023, restoring capacity flexibility on medium-haul routes.
The First Airbus A321Neo for the airline was delivered in October 2024. (Photo: planespotters.net) 
After the re-certification of the Boeing 737-8Max, it was officially clear to fly in China and the airline operated 5 examples from early 2025. (Photo: planespotters.net) By 2024 and 2025, international expansion regained momentum. The airline reinstated suspended European destinations and evaluated new long-haul opportunities aligned with recovering demand and evolving geopolitical conditions. China Eastern also expanded fifth-freedom and regional services from Kunming, leveraging Yunnan province’s geographic position as a gateway to Southeast and South Asia.
Moving forward in 2026, China Eastern Airlines stands as a carrier that has navigated rapid expansion, severe disruption, and technological transition. Its fleet reflects a blend of Airbus A320neo family aircraft, Airbus A350-900s, Boeing 737-800s and 737 MAX aircraft, Boeing 787-9s through subsidiaries, and the growing presence of the COMAC C919. Its network once again spans North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia, anchored by its Shanghai hubs and supported by regional bases across China.
Airline Factual Information
China Eastern Airlines flies to over 200 cities in 39 countries across the world, of those cities, 160 alone are in China. The airline has a strong domestic market potential as it boosts flight frequencies from Shanghai, its main hub, to other Chinese cities. It has also a strong presence on routes to Asia, North America and Australia. The airline is also accelerating the pace of international expansion by increasing flight frequencies to international destinations as more modern aircraft arrive.
China Eastern Airlines flies to the following destinations*:
Updated February 2026
China Eastern Airlines has an impressive fleet of more than 680 aircraft, from regional to long haul aircraft. It was the launch customer for the new regional airplane Comac C919 in 2025. Additionally, it has many new aircraft on order from both Airbus and Boeing, which will replace older models and help to expand operations. The usage of it's aircraft are majorly dictated by season, meaning that on some routes despite the shorter distance, some bigger aircraft are operated like Shanghai-Beijing.
The China Eastern fleet* consists of the following aircraft:
Updated February 2026
Reviews and comments ⭐
What Stands Out 😀👍 | Needs Improvement 🫤👎 |
✅ Competitive Pricing: Passengers consistently highlight that the airline offers some of the most affordable long-haul fares to Asia. | 👎 Unresponsive Customer Support: Many reviews cite "non-existent" help when trying to reach the airline via phone or email for refunds or changes. |
✅ Modern Fleet: Travelers often note that newer aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-300ER are clean, quiet, and well-maintained. | 👎 Difficult Website & App: A recurring complaint is the "buggy" English website, which often fails during online check-in or seat selection. |
✅ Generous Legroom: Compared to Western carriers, many passengers find the economy seat pitch and recline to be surprisingly spacious. | 👎 Inconsistent Staff Interaction: While some staff are professional, many passengers report "rude" or "indifferent" service, particularly during delays. |
✅ On-Time Performance: A significant number of recent reviews mention that flights departed and arrived exactly as scheduled. | 👎 Language Barriers: Non-Chinese speakers frequently struggle with cabin crew who have a limited grasp of English, making requests difficult. |
✅ Free In-Flight Wi-Fi: Many appreciate the complimentary Wi-Fi on wide-body aircraft, even if it is subject to the "Great Firewall" restrictions. | 👎 Mediocre Food Quality: Meals are often described as "bland," "repetitive," or "unappealing," with very limited options for special dietary needs. |
✅ Efficient Ground Handling: Ground staff at major hubs like Shanghai Pudong are often praised for their speed during check-in and boarding. | 👎 Poor Disruption Management: In the event of a cancellation, passengers report being "left in the dark" with little to no assistance for rebooking or hotels. |
*Reviews are collected from independent sites and compelled by the most representative reviews and comments. Planet Airlines Ltd remains impartial to any airlines.