Ruili Airlines
A Chinese private low-cost airline serving domestic routes and selected destinations in Southeast Asia. Chinese airline based in Yunnan Province.
Last updated October 13, 2026
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Overview
Ruili Airlines, legally known as Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd., is a Chinese private airline operating under the Ruili Airlines brand. The carrier was established in 2014 and received its air operator's certificate on 22 January of that year. Its first commercial service took place on 18 May 2014, linking Kunming with Mangshi in Yunnan Province. The airline's name reflects its origins and early operating focus in Yunnan, while its later corporate structure and registered headquarters have become associated with Wuxi in Jiangsu Province. The airline was originally wholly owned by Yunnan-based Jingcheng Group. Its initial network was built around Kunming Changshui International Airport, with Dehong Mangshi International Airport serving as a focus location. The carrier developed as a privately controlled, cost-conscious airline intended to connect major and secondary Chinese cities, particularly in southwestern China, with additional links to Southeast Asia. By March 2018, published information described a network of 34 destinations in China and Southeast Asia, although route schedules and destination coverage have changed over time. Ruili Airlines has primarily operated Boeing narrow-body aircraft for short- and medium-haul passenger services. Its early fleet development included Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft. Two 737-700s initially obtained from Air Berlin were later returned to Southwest Airlines in 2015, while the carrier also received a directly purchased 737-700 from Boeing and added 737-800 aircraft. The airline subsequently announced ambitious expansion plans, including commitments involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and an order for Boeing 787-9 aircraft in 2016. The wide-body plan represented an aspiration to expand beyond the carrier's established regional and domestic role; the referenced material indicates that none of the five 787-9 aircraft associated with the plan had been delivered as of 2025. A major change occurred in 2021. On 15 January, the airline completed an industrial and commercial registration change under which Wuxi Traffic Group became the controlling shareholder with a 57 percent stake. Jingcheng Group's holding declined to 13 percent, while the remaining 30 percent was held by Dong Lecheng, identified in the cited material as president of Jingcheng Group and chairman of Ruili Airlines. On 28 March 2021, the airline announced completion of the acquisition process and its status as a holding subsidiary of Wuxi Transportation Industry Group. On 18 October 2021, its registered corporate name changed from Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd. to Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd. The brand's positioning is that of a regional Chinese private carrier emphasizing affordable air travel and efficient fleet utilization rather than a premium full-service proposition. Its principal offering is scheduled passenger transportation, with domestic Chinese routes forming the operational core and international services extending selectively into Southeast Asia. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate loyalty brand, cargo brand, or broad ancillary-services portfolio. Details of current fleet size, current route frequency, financial performance, and present executive leadership are not sufficiently documented in the supplied material. Reolian is a Chinese airline headquartered in Kunming, Yunnan Province, founded in 2013, operating domestic routes. The brand is positioned as a regional Chinese private airline emphasizing affordable air travel and efficient fleet utilization rather than premium full-service offerings. Its principal product is scheduled passenger service, with domestic routes forming the operational core and international service selectively extending to Southeast Asia. Public reference material does not establish a separate frequent-flyer brand, cargo brand, or extensive ancillary services portfolio. Details of current fleet size, current route frequencies, financial performance, and incumbent executive leadership are not fully documented in the supplied material.
History
Ruili Airlines was established in 2014 as a Chinese private carrier owned by Jingcheng Group. The airline secured its air operator's certificate on 22 January 2014 and launched scheduled flying on 18 May with a Kunming–Mangshi route. This opening service reflected the carrier's early emphasis on Yunnan and on connecting regional markets with Kunming Changshui International Airport. The airline developed a low-cost operating model using Boeing 737 aircraft. It initially received two Boeing 737-700 aircraft from Air Berlin on 6 January 2014, although those aircraft were returned to Southwest Airlines in May 2015. Ruili Airlines received its first Boeing 737-800 on 30 March 2014 and later took delivery of a Boeing 737-700 purchased directly from Boeing on 25 November 2014. In 2015 it announced a commitment involving 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, subject to final negotiations. In July 2016, it finalized an order for six Boeing 787-9 aircraft valued in the cited reference at US$1.59 billion. The wide-body program suggested an intention to broaden the carrier's reach, although the supplied material states that the planned 787-9 aircraft had not been delivered as of 2025. Ruili Airlines expanded its passenger network beyond its initial Yunnan base. Its operating structure has been described as centered at Wuxi Shuofang Airport, with Kunming Changshui International Airport as a hub and Dehong Mangshi International Airport as a focus city. By March 2018, the airline was reported to serve 34 destinations across China and Southeast Asia. The exact composition of the network has varied, and the supplied sources do not provide a complete current timetable. The company's ownership changed materially in 2021. On 15 January, an industrial and commercial registration change made Wuxi Traffic Group the controlling shareholder with a 57 percent holding. Jingcheng Group's stake fell to 13 percent, while Dong Lecheng held the remaining 30 percent. On 28 March, Ruili Airlines announced that the acquisition process was complete and identified itself as a holding subsidiary of Wuxi Transportation Industry Group. Later that year, on 18 October, the registered corporate name was changed to Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd. The brand remains associated with scheduled passenger services, an all-Boeing operating concept in the available fleet description, and a low-cost or value-oriented regional proposition. Its principal market is China, supplemented by selected Southeast Asian services. The supplied material does not establish detailed information about profitability, traffic volumes, current management beyond the 2021 ownership disclosures, or the present status of every announced aircraft commitment.
- 2021
Change of controlling shareholder
[1]Wuxi Traffic Group became the controlling shareholder with a 57 percent stake.
- 2021
Registered name changed
[1]The registered corporate name changed to Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd. on 18 October 2021.
- 2016
Boeing 787-9 order finalized
[1]The airline finalized an order for six Boeing 787-9 aircraft in July 2016.
- 2015
737 MAX expansion commitment
[1]Ruili Airlines announced a commitment involving 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, subject to final negotiations.
- 2014
Air operator's certificate issued
[1]Ruili Airlines received its air operator's certificate on 22 January 2014.
- 2014
First commercial flight
[1]The airline began service on 18 May 2014 on the Kunming–Mangshi route.
Products and positioning
A regional Chinese private low-cost carrier focused on affordable domestic connectivity and selected Southeast Asian routes.
Passenger air transportation · 2014
Scheduled domestic passenger services
Domestic scheduled flights are the core of Ruili Airlines' business. The carrier was launched with a Yunnan route linking Kunming and Mangshi and subsequently developed a broader Chinese network. These services are designed around regional and intercity connectivity using Boeing narrow-body aircraft and a value-oriented operating model.
International passenger air transportation
Southeast Asian international services
Ruili Airlines has operated international passenger routes connecting China with destinations in Southeast Asia. These services complement its domestic network and reflect the geographic position of its original Yunnan base. The available material confirms the regional scope but does not provide a complete current list of destinations or frequencies.
Aircraft-based service platform · 2014
Boeing 737 operations
The Boeing 737 family has formed the principal aircraft platform associated with Ruili Airlines. The carrier operated 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft and announced additional 737 and 737 MAX commitments during its expansion period. The type supports the short- and medium-haul domestic and Southeast Asian missions that define the brand's network.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2021
Transfer of control to Wuxi Traffic GroupM&ABackground
Ruili Airlines underwent an ownership restructuring that changed control from its original Jingcheng Group-centered arrangement.
Action taken
Wuxi Traffic Group acquired a 57 percent holding; Jingcheng Group retained 13 percent and Dong Lecheng held 30 percent. The acquisition process was announced as complete on 28 March 2021.
Aftermath
Ruili Airlines became a holding subsidiary of Wuxi Transportation Industry Group and later adopted the registered name Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd.
2016
Plan to expand into wide-body operationsStrategyBackground
Ruili Airlines sought to extend its growth ambitions beyond its established Boeing 737 regional and domestic operation.
Action taken
The airline finalized an order for six Boeing 787-9 aircraft in July 2016.
Aftermath
The supplied reference states that none of the five 787-9 aircraft associated with the plan had been delivered as of 2025; the discrepancy between the announced six-aircraft order and the later five-aircraft description is not resolved in the available material.
Recent events
Wuxi Transport Group signs framework agreement to acquire Ruili Airlines equity[6]
Reported:
Wuxi Transport Group and Yunnan Jingcheng Group held a signing ceremony for a framework agreement on the transfer of Ruili Airlines equity. The report describes the transaction as an acquisition but does not establish that it was completed.
Sources6 sources
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