9 Air

9 Air, also known as Jiuyuan Airlines, is a Chinese low-cost airline headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, and based primarily at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. It was established in 2014 as a subsidiary of Juneyao Air and developed as the low-fare airline within the aviation interests of Junyao Group. The carrier was created during a period in which China’s civil aviation market was expanding and demand was growing for lower-priced air travel beyond the established full-service airlines. The airline conducted its first charter flight on 2 December 2014, flying from Guangzhou Baiyun to Zhanjiang. Regular commercial operations began on 15 January 2015 with a Guangzhou–Wenzhou–Harbin service. Its brand name, 9 Air, expresses a value-oriented proposition: the airline emphasizes affordable base fares, a simplified service structure, and cost-conscious operations rather than the broader bundled amenities normally associated with full-service carriers. The carrier has been described as the first low-cost airline based in Central and Southern China. 9 Air operates an all-economy cabin model. Its passenger proposition centers on scheduled air transportation, with optional paid services such as meals and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as extra-legroom seating. This structure allows the airline to separate the basic fare from selected ancillary services and to target travelers who prioritize price and route availability. Its principal customer groups include leisure passengers, visiting-family travelers, students, migrant workers, and other passengers whose travel decisions are particularly sensitive to airfare. The airline’s network has primarily focused on Chinese domestic destinations, while also including selected international and regional services in East and Southeast Asia. In July 2019, it began a direct Guangzhou–Sihanoukville route in Cambodia, becoming the first Chinese airline to operate that city pair; the service was no longer operating by June 2020. During the COVID-19 period, 9 Air also performed special transportation and cargo-related missions. In March 2020 it operated a cargo charter between Guangzhou and Yangon, Myanmar, carrying urgently required materials, and later operated rescue flights that returned stranded Hubei residents from Thailand. The Civil Aviation Administration of China granted the airline qualification for cabin cargo operations on 31 March 2020. 9 Air has also introduced selected technology and fleet developments. Its first aircraft arrived in Guangzhou in August 2014, and it later received Boeing 737-800 aircraft, including an airline-owned aircraft delivered in 2016 with a commemorative gold-tail livery. In January 2018, it successfully tested onboard Wi-Fi on a Boeing 737, an event reported as the first successful domestic deployment of in-flight Wi-Fi on a narrow-body aircraft by a Chinese airline. A Boeing 737 MAX arrived in October 2018 as part of the carrier’s fleet development. The airline remains distinct from Juneyao Air in customer proposition and operating model, although the two are connected through corporate ownership and the wider Junyao Group. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current route list, current fleet count, passenger volume, financial performance, or a definitive list of current executives. Those details are therefore not stated here.

9 Air was created in 2014 as a subsidiary of Juneyao Air and became the low-cost airline brand associated with the aviation businesses of Junyao Group. Its establishment coincided with the expansion of China’s civil aviation market and increasing interest in lower-fare air travel. The airline was headquartered in Guangzhou and selected Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as its principal operating base, giving it access to one of southern China’s major aviation markets. The carrier’s first aircraft arrived in Guangzhou on 30 August 2014. It was a Boeing 737-800 leased from CMIG Aviation Leasing and carried an orange-painted vertical tail. 9 Air conducted its first charter flight on 2 December 2014 between Guangzhou Baiyun and Zhanjiang. Regular commercial activity began on 15 January 2015 with a Guangzhou–Wenzhou–Harbin route. From the beginning, the airline’s business model was based on low-cost air transport, a comparatively simplified product, and the separation of basic carriage from optional services. The passenger offering developed around an all-economy cabin. Customers could purchase extra-legroom seats and buy meals or non-alcoholic drinks onboard, while the base product concentrated on transportation at a relatively low fare. This model distinguished 9 Air from Juneyao Air’s conventional airline proposition and positioned the carrier toward price-sensitive travelers. Its network initially emphasized Chinese domestic service, although it later pursued selected international opportunities. Fleet development was an important part of the airline’s early growth. On 15 July 2016, Boeing delivered the first aircraft owned by 9 Air, a Boeing 737-800 presented with a commemorative gold-tail livery. On 30 October 2018, the carrier received its first Boeing 737 MAX, described in the available reference material as its seventeenth new aircraft. The airline also pursued onboard technology: on 23 January 2018 it successfully tested Wi-Fi Internet access on a Boeing 737, an achievement reported as the first successful in-flight Wi-Fi deployment by a Chinese airline on a narrow-body aircraft. 9 Air expanded beyond its domestic emphasis in July 2019 by launching a direct Guangzhou–Sihanoukville service. The route was notable because 9 Air was the first Chinese airline to operate that city pair. The service was no longer operating by June 2020. During the global COVID-19 disruption, the airline adapted some operations to emergency transportation and logistics needs. On 17 March 2020 it flew a cargo charter between Guangzhou and Yangon, Myanmar, delivering supplies requested in support of Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese workers. On 19 March, it dispatched four rescue flights from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to help 573 Hubei residents stranded in Thailand return home. On 31 March 2020, it obtained regulatory qualification for cabin cargo operations from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. 9 Air’s enduring identity is that of a Guangzhou-based Chinese low-cost airline rather than a full-service international carrier. Its principal activities are scheduled passenger operations, with supplementary charter, rescue, and cargo-related capabilities documented during the pandemic period. Publicly available reference material does not provide enough verified information to describe its current fleet size, complete destination map, financial results, passenger volume, or current and former executive roster. These areas remain open for further verification.

1. 2020Cargo and rescue operations expand

   The airline conducts a China–Myanmar cargo charter and rescue flights for stranded Hubei residents during the COVID-19 disruption.

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2. 2020Cabin cargo qualification obtained

   The Civil Aviation Administration of China grants 9 Air qualification for cabin cargo operations.

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3. 2019International route to Sihanoukville launches

   9 Air begins direct Guangzhou–Sihanoukville service in Cambodia, later discontinuing the route by June 2020.

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4. 2018In-flight Wi-Fi test succeeds

   9 Air successfully tests Wi-Fi Internet access on a Boeing 737.

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5. 2018First Boeing 737 MAX enters the fleet

   The airline receives its first Boeing 737 MAX in October.

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6. 2016First owned aircraft delivered

   Boeing delivers 9 Air’s first owned aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 with a commemorative gold-tail design.

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7. 2015Scheduled commercial service begins

   Daily operations begin on 15 January with the Guangzhou–Wenzhou–Harbin route.

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8. 20149 Air is established

   9 Air is created as a low-cost airline subsidiary of Juneyao Air and begins building its Guangzhou-based operation.

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9. 2014First aircraft arrives in Guangzhou

   The airline’s first aircraft, a leased Boeing 737-800, arrives at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport on 30 August.

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10. 2014First charter flight

    9 Air operates its first charter flight from Guangzhou Baiyun to Zhanjiang on 2 December.

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A value-oriented Chinese low-cost airline offering basic air transportation, lower base fares, and optional ancillary services, with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as its principal operating base.

• Domestic scheduled passenger flightsPassenger airline service2015

  Domestic scheduled passenger flights are the airline’s core offering. They connect destinations within China under a low-cost operating model and are designed for travelers who place a high priority on affordable air transportation. The service is built around an all-economy cabin and a basic fare structure, with selected amenities available separately.

• Regional international passenger flightsInternational passenger airline service2019

  9 Air has operated selected international and regional routes in East and Southeast Asia. A documented example is the Guangzhou–Sihanoukville route launched in 2019. International flying complements the airline’s domestic network, although the available material does not establish the complete current international schedule.

• Low-cost air ticketsAirfare product2015

  Low-cost tickets form the principal consumer-facing product. The model emphasizes a relatively low base fare for transportation, while allowing passengers to purchase selected extras according to their needs. This approach supports 9 Air’s distinction from full-service airlines and targets price-sensitive leisure, family, student, and short-haul business travelers.

• Optional onboard servicesAncillary airline service2015

  The airline offers an economy-focused cabin with optional services including extra-legroom seats, onboard meals, and non-alcoholic drinks. These features supplement the basic air ticket rather than forming part of a fully bundled full-service proposition.

• Cabin cargo operationsAir cargo service2020

  9 Air received qualification for cabin cargo operations from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2020. The qualification supported the airline’s ability to use passenger aircraft for cargo-related missions during an exceptional period of disrupted passenger demand and urgent logistics requirements.

• 2020Shift toward cargo and rescue missions during the pandemicStrategy

  The COVID-19 crisis disrupted normal passenger aviation and created urgent requirements for transport of supplies and stranded travelers.

  What changed. 9 Air operated a Guangzhou–Yangon cargo charter, conducted rescue flights involving Thailand and Hubei residents, and obtained cabin cargo-operation qualification from the Chinese aviation regulator.

  Aftermath. These activities demonstrated temporary use of the airline’s aircraft and operating capability for logistics and repatriation support, although no financial outcome is established in the available sources.

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• 2019Launch of Guangzhou–Sihanoukville serviceProduct launch

  9 Air sought to extend its Guangzhou-centered low-cost network beyond mainland China.

  What changed. The airline opened a direct route between Guangzhou and Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on 8 July 2019.

  Aftermath. The route was later discontinued and was no longer operating by June 2020.

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• 20209 Air operates China–Myanmar cargo charter

  On 17 March 2020, 9 Air operated a Guangzhou–Yangon cargo charter carrying urgently needed materials for Chinese businesses and workers in Myanmar.

  Other
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• 20209 Air operates rescue flights for stranded travelers

  The airline dispatched four rescue flights from Shenzhen and Guangzhou on 19 March 2020, helping 573 Hubei residents return from Thailand.

  Other
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• 20209 Air obtains cabin cargo-operation qualification

  The Civil Aviation Administration of China approved 9 Air for cabin cargo operations on 31 March 2020.

  Regulation
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• 20199 Air launches Guangzhou–Sihanoukville service

  9 Air began direct service between Guangzhou and Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on 8 July 2019. The route was subsequently discontinued by June 2020.

  Product launch
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• 20189 Air completes narrow-body Wi-Fi test

  The airline reported a successful test of in-flight Wi-Fi on a Boeing 737 on 23 January 2018.

  Product launch
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• 20189 Air receives its first Boeing 737 MAX

  The airline’s seventeenth new aircraft and first Boeing 737 MAX arrived in Guangzhou on 30 October 2018.

  Product generation
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• 20169 Air receives first airline-owned aircraft

  Boeing delivered 9 Air’s first owned aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, on 15 July 2016. The aircraft carried a commemorative gold-tail livery.

  Product generation
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• 20159 Air begins scheduled commercial operations

  9 Air started regular daily operations on 15 January 2015 with a Guangzhou–Wenzhou–Harbin route.

  Other
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• 20149 Air conducts its first charter flight

  The airline operated its inaugural charter service from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Zhanjiang Airport on 2 December 2014.

  Other
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• 20149 Air receives its first Boeing 737-800

  The carrier’s first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 leased from CMIG Aviation Leasing, arrived in Guangzhou in August 2014.

  Product generation
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1. 9 Air