Beijing Capital Airlines
A Chinese airline headquartered in Beijing that operates scheduled domestic and international passenger services, together with air-cargo and charter-related activities.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Beijing Capital Airlines is a Chinese airline headquartered in Beijing and associated with the Hainan Airlines and HNA Aviation Group structure. The business traces its origins to Deer Jet Airlines, established in 1995 under the Chinese name Jinlu Airlines. It initially developed through a mixture of passenger, international, charter, and corporate-jet activities. The Deer Air branding was used for international services from 1998, while the company later expanded its charter business and introduced Airbus aircraft alongside earlier Boeing 737 operations. The scheduled-airline business was separated from the charter operation in 2010. Beijing Capital Airlines began its first service on 2 April 2010 from Beijing Capital International Airport and was formally established as Beijing Capital Airlines Co., Ltd. on 2 May 2010. Following the division of Deer Jet Airlines on 4 May 2010, the scheduled Airbus-based operation adopted the Beijing Capital Airlines name, while the charter business retained the Deer Jet identity. The airline’s network has centered on mainland China, with services also covering the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions and Taiwan. Its international development accelerated in the middle of the 2010s. The carrier inaugurated a scheduled Hangzhou–Naha service in October 2014, received its first Airbus A330 in July 2015, and subsequently used wide-body aircraft on long-haul routes linking Chinese cities with destinations in Australia, Canada, and Europe. Examples include Qingdao–Melbourne, announced in 2016, Hangzhou–Qingdao–Vancouver, also announced in 2016, and a Beijing–Xi’an–Lisbon service introduced in 2019. Beijing Capital Airlines has also adjusted its Beijing operations in response to the opening of Beijing Daxing International Airport. In September 2019 it announced that some flights would move from Beijing Capital International Airport to Daxing beginning on 27 October 2019. The airline is described as a low-cost carrier in reference materials, although its operations have included a broad mix of scheduled passenger flying, long-haul international services, cargo transport, and activities historically connected with charter aviation. The carrier operates Airbus aircraft and has previously used Boeing 737-300 and 737-700 aircraft, as well as Airbus A319 aircraft. It maintains codeshare relationships with Hainan Airlines and TAP Air Portugal and interline arrangements involving APG Airlines and Hahn Air. As of the cited 2025 reference material, the airline continued to serve international markets including the Moscow Sheremetyevo route. Detailed current fleet counts, ownership percentages, executive appointments, financial results, and route schedules are not specified in the supplied sources.
History
Beijing Capital Airlines developed from Deer Jet Airlines, a Chinese aviation company established in 1995 under the Deer or Jinlu branding. The business began international services under the Deer Air name in 1998. Its earlier fleet included Boeing 737 aircraft, while an Airbus-centered development phase began when the company received its first Airbus A319 in October 2007. The company later returned the Boeing 737 aircraft from service and built capabilities in both scheduled and non-scheduled aviation. In December 2008, Deer Jet began providing charter services using Airbus A319 aircraft and corporate jets. The Civil Aviation Administration of China authorized the airline to operate scheduled services in 2009. This authorization preceded the creation of the Beijing Capital Airlines scheduled brand. The first Beijing Capital Airlines service operated on 2 April 2010 from Beijing Capital International Airport, and the company was officially established on 2 May 2010. On 4 May, the former Deer Jet operation was divided into two businesses: the scheduled Airbus operation became Beijing Capital Airlines, while the charter operation continued under the Deer Jet name. The airline’s scheduled network has principally covered mainland China, alongside services to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas destinations. Its international scheduled expansion became more visible in 2014, when it opened the Hangzhou–Naha route. The arrival of the first Airbus A330 in July 2015 provided a larger aircraft platform for long-haul development. In 2016, the carrier announced services from Qingdao to Melbourne and from Hangzhou through Qingdao to Vancouver. These routes illustrated its effort to connect Chinese regional markets with intercontinental destinations rather than relying exclusively on Beijing. European expansion included a twice-weekly Beijing–Xi'an–Lisbon service introduced in August 2019. In the same year, the airline announced that part of its Beijing operation would transfer from Beijing Capital International Airport to Beijing Daxing International Airport from 27 October, reflecting the opening of the new airport and the restructuring of Beijing’s civil-aviation capacity. Beijing Capital Airlines has been linked to Hainan Airlines and HNA Aviation Group. Its commercial relationships include codeshares with Hainan Airlines and TAP Air Portugal, as well as interline arrangements with APG Airlines and Hahn Air. The carrier has operated Airbus aircraft and has previously operated Boeing 737-300 and 737-700 aircraft and Airbus A319 aircraft. The supplied reference material identifies it as a low-cost airline but also records scheduled passenger, cargo, long-haul, and historically charter-related activities. Current fleet composition, executive leadership, detailed corporate ownership, financial performance, and the full current route map require verification against up-to-date company or regulatory sources.
- 2019
Lisbon route and Daxing transition
[1]The airline launched a Beijing–Xi'an–Lisbon service and announced the transfer of some Beijing flights to Daxing Airport.
- 2015
First Airbus A330 delivered
[1]The carrier received its first Airbus A330, enabling broader long-haul operations.
- 2014
First international scheduled route launched
[1]The airline opened a scheduled Hangzhou–Naha service.
- 2010
Beijing Capital Airlines established
[1]The scheduled operation launched in April and Beijing Capital Airlines Co., Ltd. was formally established in May after the scheduled and charter activities were separated.
- 2009
Scheduled-service authorization received
[1]The airline received authorization from the Civil Aviation Administration of China to operate scheduled air services.
- 2008
Charter operations expanded
[1]Deer Jet began charter operations using Airbus A319 aircraft and corporate jets.
- 2007
First Airbus A319 delivered
[1]The company received its first Airbus A319 and began moving away from its previously operated Boeing 737 fleet.
- 1998
International services begin under Deer Air
[1]The airline began offering international services using the Deer Air branding.
- 1995
Deer Jet Airlines established
[1]The business that later produced Beijing Capital Airlines was established as Deer Jet Airlines, also known by the Chinese name Jinlu Airlines.
Products and positioning
A Chinese scheduled airline with a network spanning domestic and international passenger markets, combining a historically low-cost orientation with long-haul, cargo, and charter-related capabilities.
Passenger aviation · 2010
Domestic scheduled passenger services
The airline’s core business includes scheduled passenger flights within mainland China, connecting Beijing and other Chinese cities. Its domestic network also supports international itineraries that route through Chinese hubs such as Hangzhou, Qingdao, Xi'an, and Beijing.
Passenger aviation · 1998
International scheduled passenger services
Beijing Capital Airlines operates scheduled international services from Chinese cities to destinations in Asia and other regions. International development included the Hangzhou–Naha route and later long-haul services to Australia, Canada, Europe, and Russia.
Long-haul aviation · 2015
Airbus A330 long-haul operations
The introduction of the Airbus A330 in 2015 created a wide-body platform for intercontinental services. The aircraft type was used for routes including services associated with Melbourne and Vancouver.
Cargo aviation
Air-cargo transport
Reference material identifies cargo transport as part of the airline’s operating scope, although it does not provide a separate cargo fleet, product catalogue, or current cargo network.
Charter aviation · 2008
Charter and corporate aviation services
The company’s historical charter activity used Airbus A319 aircraft and corporate jets. After the 2010 separation, the charter operation retained the Deer Jet branding rather than operating as the scheduled Beijing Capital Airlines brand.
Controversies
2020
Complaints over hidden restrictions on Shouzhun economy-class benefits prompt airline to revise display descriptions
In November 2020, Jiemian News investigated complaints that Beijing Capital Airlines' front-row seat and priority boarding benefits were available only in certain cities and were inadequately disclosed; the airline subsequently revised the product rules and added reminders about eligible cities.
Brand decisions
2019
Shift part of Beijing operations to DaxingStrategyBackground
Beijing Daxing International Airport opened as a new major aviation facility serving the Beijing area.
Action taken
The airline announced that some flights would move from Beijing Capital International Airport to Daxing beginning on 27 October 2019.
Aftermath
The move aligned part of the airline’s Beijing operation with the newly opened airport, although the supplied sources do not specify the complete final allocation of routes.
2015
Adopt Airbus A330 for long-haul growthOtherBackground
The airline was expanding from domestic and regional services toward longer international routes.
Action taken
It received its first Airbus A330 in July 2015.
Aftermath
The wide-body aircraft supported subsequent services linking Chinese cities with Australia, Canada, and Europe.
2010
Separate scheduled and charter operationsStrategyBackground
Deer Jet Airlines had developed both scheduled-service and charter activities, including corporate-jet operations.
Action taken
The scheduled Airbus operation was renamed Beijing Capital Airlines, while the charter business continued under the Deer Jet name.
Aftermath
The change created the separate Beijing Capital Airlines brand for scheduled passenger operations and preserved Deer Jet as the charter-oriented brand.
Sources6 sources
- 1Beijing Capital Airlinesen.wikipedia.org
- 2Beijing Capital Airlines official websitejdair.net
- 3首都航空[官方网站]-机票查询_机票预订_航班查询_旅游度假_特价机票_三亚机票_丽江机票jdair.net
- 4首都航空[官方网站]-机票查询_机票预订_航班查询_旅游度假_特价机票_三亚机票_丽江机票jdair.net
- 5首都航空[官方网站]-机票查询_机票预订_航班查询_旅游度假_特价机票_三亚机票_丽江机票jdair.net
- 6Complaints over hidden restrictions on Shouzhun economy-class benefits prompt airline to revise display descriptionsjiemian.com
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