Shanghai Airlines
A Shanghai-based Chinese airline operating domestic and international passenger services as a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines.
Last updated October 12, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Shanghai Airlines is a Chinese passenger airline headquartered in Shanghai and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. Established on December 30, 1985, it was created through investment by the Shanghai municipal government and local enterprises and became one of the earliest commercially oriented airlines associated with the development of Shanghai's civil aviation sector. Initially limited to domestic operations, the airline began international services in 1997 as China's aviation market opened and Shanghai developed into a major international gateway. The airline's network is centered on Shanghai's two principal airports: Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, which is particularly important for domestic and regional services, and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the city's main long-haul and international hub. Shanghai Airlines operates within the broader China Eastern network and provides access to destinations across mainland China as well as selected markets in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania and other international regions. Its international focus has included Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Services have also included flights operated on behalf of China Eastern to destinations such as Melbourne and Casablanca, using Shanghai Airlines aircraft and crew. Shanghai Airlines pursued expansion as an independent listed company during the 2000s. It was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in late 2002, providing additional capital for fleet and network development. A cargo subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines Cargo, was established in 2006. The airline joined Star Alliance as the alliance's nineteenth member in December 2007, strengthening the alliance's presence in Shanghai and giving Shanghai Airlines access to a wider international partnership network. In June 2009, China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines announced plans to merge. The transaction was intended to reduce duplicated competition between the two Shanghai-based carriers, improve their ability to compete with Air China and China Southern Airlines, and support Shanghai's role as an international aviation hub. The merger was completed in February 2010. Shanghai Airlines was subsequently delisted from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and became a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. The airline left Star Alliance on November 1, 2010, and aligned itself with China Eastern's SkyTeam membership instead. Its former cargo activities were consolidated into China Cargo Airlines. Following integration, Shanghai Airlines retained its own brand and operating identity while becoming part of China Eastern's wider commercial, operational and loyalty infrastructure. Its former Crane Club frequent-flyer program was merged into China Eastern's Eastern Miles program in 2011, with the integration formally taking effect on June 8 of that year. Shanghai Airlines is therefore best understood today as a Shanghai-focused airline brand within the China Eastern group rather than as a separately listed airline. Its principal role is to provide branded passenger services from Shanghai while complementing the parent carrier's domestic and international network.
History
Shanghai Airlines was established on December 30, 1985, through funding from the Shanghai municipal government and Shanghai-based enterprises. Its creation reflected the development of Shanghai as a major commercial center and the gradual modernization of China's civil aviation industry. In its early years, the airline was restricted to domestic operations. It later expanded beyond China, beginning international services in 1997. The airline entered a period of more commercially driven expansion in the early 2000s. It was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in late 2002, enabling it to raise capital and enlarge its operations. The company added a cargo dimension in 2006 by establishing Shanghai Airlines Cargo. Passenger network growth and Shanghai's improving airport infrastructure allowed the brand to serve both domestic destinations and international markets across East Asia and Southeast Asia. Shanghai Airlines also pursued international alliance participation. On December 12, 2007, it became the nineteenth member of Star Alliance. The membership gave the airline access to alliance connectivity and helped reinforce Star Alliance's position in the Shanghai market. This arrangement changed after the airline's strategic combination with China Eastern Airlines. On June 11, 2009, China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines announced that they would merge. Both airlines were based in Shanghai, and the transaction was intended to reduce excess competition between them while creating a stronger combined carrier capable of competing with Air China and China Southern Airlines. The merger was also linked to the policy objective of strengthening Shanghai's status as an international aviation hub. Completion occurred in February 2010. Shanghai Airlines was delisted from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and became a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines. The change in ownership led to corresponding changes in alliance and commercial arrangements. Shanghai Airlines left Star Alliance on November 1, 2010, and aligned with China Eastern's SkyTeam network. Its cargo division was consolidated into China Cargo Airlines. The former Crane Club frequent-flyer program was subsequently merged into China Eastern's Eastern Miles program; the integration became official on June 8, 2011. Shanghai Airlines continues to operate under its own brand while using the resources and connectivity of the China Eastern group. Its operations are centered on Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The airline serves domestic routes throughout mainland China and international or regional routes in markets including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. It has also operated selected services on behalf of China Eastern, including routes to Melbourne and Casablanca. The brand's visual identity is associated with a white crane on a red vertical tail fin, while its current loyalty participation is through Eastern Miles rather than a separate Shanghai Airlines program.
- 2019
Budapest route opens
[1]Shanghai Airlines opened direct service to Budapest in June.
- 2011
Loyalty-program integration
[1]The Crane Club program was absorbed into China Eastern's Eastern Miles program on June 8.
- 2010
Merger completed and listing ends
[1]Shanghai Airlines became a wholly owned China Eastern subsidiary and was delisted from the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
- 2010
Alliance transition
[1]The airline left Star Alliance on November 1 and moved into the SkyTeam context through China Eastern.
- 2009
Merger agreement with China Eastern
[1]China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines announced a merger designed to consolidate the Shanghai market and improve competitive strength.
- 2007
Admission to Star Alliance
[1]Shanghai Airlines joined Star Alliance as its nineteenth member.
- 2006
Cargo subsidiary established
[1]Shanghai Airlines Cargo was founded to handle the group's cargo activities.
- 2002
Shanghai Stock Exchange listing
[1]Shanghai Airlines became a listed company, supporting subsequent network and business expansion.
- 1997
International operations begin
[1]The airline expanded beyond its original domestic-only scope and began international services.
- 1985
Founding of Shanghai Airlines
[1]Shanghai Airlines was established on December 30 through investment by the Shanghai municipal government and local enterprises.
Products and positioning
A Shanghai-based airline brand integrated into China Eastern's network and SkyTeam ecosystem.
Passenger air transport · 1985
Domestic passenger services
Shanghai Airlines operates scheduled passenger services connecting Shanghai with cities throughout mainland China. These routes form the core of the brand's network and complement China Eastern's broader domestic system. Hongqiao is particularly associated with domestic and regional connectivity, while the airline also uses Pudong for international operations.
Passenger air transport · 1997
International and regional passenger services
The airline has operated international and regional services since 1997, with markets including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. Its international activity is managed within the wider China Eastern network and has included selected long-haul services operated on behalf of the parent airline.
Loyalty program · 2011
Eastern Miles
Eastern Miles is the China Eastern group loyalty program used by Shanghai Airlines after the former Crane Club was integrated in 2011. Members can earn and redeem mileage on eligible China Eastern group services, with tier benefits that include Silver, Gold and Platinum status.
Air cargo · 2006
Shanghai Airlines Cargo
Shanghai Airlines Cargo was established in 2006 as the airline's cargo subsidiary. Following the China Eastern merger, its activities were consolidated into China Cargo Airlines rather than continuing as a separately emphasized Shanghai Airlines business.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2011
Integrate Crane Club into Eastern MilesStrategyBackground
After the merger, maintaining separate loyalty programs would have duplicated customer-account and mileage systems.
Action taken
Shanghai Airlines merged its Crane Club frequent-flyer program into China Eastern's Eastern Miles program, with the integration taking effect on June 8, 2011.
Aftermath
Shanghai Airlines customers could earn and redeem mileage through the China Eastern program, and the former standalone Crane Club ceased to function as the airline's separate loyalty platform.
2010
Switch from Star Alliance to the China Eastern SkyTeam networkStrategyBackground
The merger changed Shanghai Airlines' strategic relationship with airline alliances because China Eastern was a SkyTeam member rather than a Star Alliance member.
Action taken
Shanghai Airlines left Star Alliance on November 1, 2010, and aligned its alliance participation with China Eastern.
Aftermath
The airline operated within the China Eastern group and gained access to the parent company's SkyTeam network rather than maintaining an independent Star Alliance position.
2009
Merge with China Eastern AirlinesM&ABackground
Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern were both major Shanghai-based carriers. Their combination was presented as a way to reduce overlapping competition, strengthen the combined airline against larger domestic rivals and support Shanghai's international aviation-hub ambitions.
Action taken
The companies announced the merger in June 2009. Completion in February 2010 made Shanghai Airlines a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern and ended its separate stock-market listing.
Aftermath
Shanghai Airlines retained its brand and operating presence but became part of China Eastern's commercial and alliance structure. It left Star Alliance and subsequently used China Eastern's SkyTeam affiliation and Eastern Miles loyalty platform.
Recent events
China Eastern launches Weekend Anytime Fly pass[5]
Reported:
China Eastern launched the “Weekend Anytime Fly” electronic pass, priced at 3,322 yuan per person for six months and usable on eligible Saturday and Sunday domestic economy flights operated by China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/shanghai-airlines · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled