Joy Air
Joy Air is a Chinese regional airline established by China Eastern Airlines and AVIC, focused primarily on domestic service using turboprop aircraft.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Joy Air, also known in Chinese as 幸福航空, is a Chinese regional airline associated with China Eastern Airlines and AVIC Group. The carrier was launched on 29 March 2008 as a joint venture between China Eastern Airlines and AVIC I, the predecessor organization associated with AVIC Group. Its creation reflected an effort to develop regional air transport in China while supporting domestically produced regional aircraft, particularly the Xian MA-60 turboprop. The airline is based in Xi'an and has historically concentrated on the northwestern Chinese market. It began aircraft testing on 1 June 2009 with three MA-60 turboprops and started passenger operations toward the end of 2009 with four aircraft. Its operating model centered on connecting regional cities and supporting routes that could be served economically by turboprop aircraft rather than larger mainline jets. The brand therefore occupied a niche between conventional full-service airlines and smaller regional operators, with its identity closely linked to Chinese regional aviation and domestic aircraft manufacturing. Joy Air's ownership structure has been led by China Eastern Airlines, with the balance held by AVIC Group. At one stage, China Eastern was reported to be considering the sale of most of its stake to raise funds, although the reference material does not establish whether such a transaction was completed. The airline was also associated with plans to expand substantially, including an expected fleet of 50 ACAC ARJ21 aircraft and 50 MA-60 aircraft over an eight-year period. Joy Air and Okay Airways were announced as launch customers for the Xian MA700 and were expected to participate in that aircraft's development, although the planned program and the airline's eventual fleet position did not necessarily correspond to those ambitions. The carrier's main operating base was originally associated with Tianjin Binhai International Airport. In December 2020, an application to change the main operating base was reviewed by the Civil Aviation Administration authorities for northern and northwestern China, and the base was changed to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. This change reinforced the airline's longstanding connection with Xi'an and the northwestern regional market. Joy Air's operational history also included two reported MA-60 accidents or incidents. In February 2014, a landing-gear mechanical failure during a landing at Zhengzhou caused the landing gear to break and the nose section to contact the runway; no injuries were reported. In May 2015, an MA-60 operating from Yiwu to Fuzhou left the runway after landing at Fuzhou. The aircraft sustained substantial structural damage and seven occupants were injured, while the available reference does not report fatalities. According to the cited Wikipedia material, Joy Air shut down operations on 27 April 2025 because of operational challenges, while also being described as planning a restart. The available material does not establish whether the restart occurred, the precise legal status of the company, or its current fleet and route network. Accordingly, the brand's present operating status remains uncertain rather than being classified definitively as active or permanently defunct.
History
Joy Air was created on 29 March 2008 as a joint airline project involving China Eastern Airlines and AVIC I. The venture combined an established Chinese airline group with the country's aviation-industrial sector, giving Joy Air both an airline owner and a strategic role in promoting domestically produced regional aircraft. Its initial focus was the northwestern Chinese market, where smaller cities and regional links could be served by turboprop aircraft. The airline began testing its operations on 1 June 2009 with three Xian MA-60 turboprops. Testing continued through the remainder of the year, and passenger operations began toward the end of 2009 with a four-aircraft MA-60 fleet. The MA-60 became central to Joy Air's early identity and business model. Rather than competing primarily through a large jet network, the airline was designed around regional air transport and the economics of turboprop service on shorter domestic routes. Joy Air's ownership was mainly associated with China Eastern Airlines, with the remaining interest held by AVIC Group. Reference material also reported that China Eastern was considering selling most of its shares to raise funds, but does not confirm that a sale was completed. The company was expected to grow considerably during its development phase, with plans involving 50 ACAC ARJ21 aircraft and 50 MA-60 aircraft over an eight-year period. Joy Air and Okay Airways were additionally announced as launch customers for the Xian MA700 and were expected to contribute to its development. These plans illustrated the airline's connection to China's regional-aircraft manufacturing ambitions, although the available information does not show that all planned fleet commitments were realized. Joy Air's operating base changed over time. The airline was originally associated with Tianjin Binhai International Airport. In December 2020, an application to change the main operating base was reviewed by the Civil Aviation Administration authorities responsible for northern and northwestern China. The approved change moved the main base to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, aligning the airline's formal base more closely with its established association with Xi'an and the northwestern region. The airline experienced two notable reported MA-60 events. On 4 February 2014, flight JR1533 suffered a landing-gear mechanical failure while landing at Zhengzhou. The landing gear broke and the aircraft's nose struck the tarmac, but no injuries were reported. On 10 May 2015, flight JR1529 from Yiwu to Fuzhou landed at Fuzhou and departed the runway. It came to rest on soft ground, with the engines striking the ground and the wings and fuselage sustaining substantial damage. Seven occupants were injured. The reference material does not report fatalities in either event. According to the cited article, Joy Air stopped operations on 27 April 2025 because of operational challenges. The same account stated that the airline was planned to restart operations, leaving its longer-term status unresolved. No reliable information in the supplied material confirms a subsequent restart, current route network, current fleet, or completed ownership restructuring. The airline should therefore be treated as a historically operating Chinese regional carrier with uncertain present status.
- 2025
Operations reportedly suspended
[1]Joy Air reportedly shut down operations on 27 April 2025 because of operational challenges, with a possible restart planned.
- 2020
Main base moves to Xi'an
[1]The airline's main operating base was changed from Tianjin Binhai International Airport to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.
- 2015
Runway excursion at Fuzhou
[1]Flight JR1529 veered off the Fuzhou runway after landing, causing substantial aircraft damage and seven injuries.
- 2014
Landing-gear accident at Zhengzhou
[1]Flight JR1533 experienced landing-gear failure while landing at Zhengzhou; no injuries were reported.
- 2009
MA-60 testing begins
[1]Joy Air began testing with three MA-60 turboprops on 1 June 2009.
- 2009
Passenger service commences
[1]The airline began passenger operations toward the end of 2009 with four MA-60 aircraft.
- 2008
Joy Air is launched
[1]China Eastern Airlines and AVIC I jointly launched Joy Air on 29 March 2008.
Products and positioning
A Chinese regional airline focused on domestic connectivity, especially in northwestern China, while supporting the use and development of Chinese-built regional aircraft.
Passenger airline service · 2009
Scheduled domestic passenger service
Joy Air's core offering was scheduled domestic passenger transportation within China. The carrier was designed to connect regional destinations, particularly in northwestern China, using aircraft suited to shorter routes and lower passenger volumes. The supplied material does not provide a complete route list or current service schedule.
Regional turboprop service · 2009
Xian MA-60 operations
The MA-60 was the aircraft most closely associated with Joy Air's early operations. The airline began testing with three aircraft in June 2009 and entered passenger service with four. Its use supported the carrier's regional-airline model and connected Joy Air with China's effort to commercialize domestically produced regional aircraft.
Planned regional aircraft offerings
ACAC ARJ21 and Xian MA700 programs
Joy Air was associated with plans to acquire ARJ21 regional jets and additional MA-60 turboprops, with a projected fleet plan of 50 of each type over eight years. It was also announced as a launch customer for the Xian MA700 alongside Okay Airways and was expected to participate in the aircraft's development. The available material does not confirm delivery or operation of these planned aircraft.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2025
Operations suspended amid operational challengesStrategyBackground
The airline faced operational challenges after its period as a regional passenger carrier.
Action taken
Joy Air reportedly shut down operations on 27 April 2025.
Aftermath
The reference material says the airline was planned to restart, but does not confirm whether operations resumed or whether the company remains commercially active.
2020
Change of main operating base to Xi'anStrategyBackground
Joy Air's original base was associated with Tianjin Binhai International Airport, while the airline had a strong historical connection to Xi'an and northwestern China.
Action taken
In December 2020, the airline's application to change its main operating base was reviewed by the relevant civil aviation authorities, and the base was changed to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.
Aftermath
The change formally aligned the main base with Xi'an and the carrier's northwestern regional focus. The supplied material does not describe subsequent effects on routes or fleet.
Recent events
- 2025
Joy Air shuts down operations amid operational challenges[1]
Other
The airline reportedly ceased operations on 27 April 2025 because of operational challenges, with plans for a possible restart mentioned in the reference material.
- 2020
Joy Air changes its main operating base to Xi'an[1]
Other
An application reviewed by civil aviation authorities in December 2020 changed the airline's main operating base from Tianjin Binhai International Airport to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.
- 2015
Joy Air MA-60 overruns runway at Fuzhou[1]
Other
On 10 May 2015, flight JR1529 from Yiwu to Fuzhou veered off the runway after landing. The aircraft suffered substantial damage and seven occupants were injured.
- 2014
Joy Air landing-gear failure at Zhengzhou[1]
Other
Joy Air flight JR1533 suffered a mechanical landing-gear failure while landing at Zhengzhou on 4 February 2014. The gear broke and the nose cone contacted the runway. No injuries were reported.
- 2009
Joy Air begins MA-60 testing[1]
Product launch
The airline began testing operations with three MA-60 turboprops on 1 June 2009 before commencing passenger services later that year.
- 2009
Joy Air starts passenger operations[1]
Product launch
Following its testing period, Joy Air commenced passenger service with four MA-60 turboprops toward the end of 2009.
- 2008
Joy Air established as a China Eastern–AVIC joint venture[1]
Other
Joy Air was launched on 29 March 2008 by China Eastern Airlines and AVIC I to develop regional air services and support Chinese regional aircraft.
Joy Air and Okay Airways announced as MA700 launch customers[1]
Product launch
Joy Air and Okay Airways were announced as launch customers for the Xian MA700 and were expected to participate in the aircraft's development.
Sources1 sources
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