China Eastern Airlines is a Chinese passenger airline headquartered in Shanghai. Established under its airline identity in 1988, it developed domestic and international services and became a member of SkyTeam in 2011. It was also the first customer to receive the COMAC C919.[1]China Eastern company profileChina Eastern Airlines · job.ceair.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]China Eastern joins SkyTeamKLM / SkyTeam · news.klm.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[3]First C919 delivered to China EasternCOMAC · english.comac.cc · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Origins in Shanghai
The airline traces its earlier history to a squadron established by the Shanghai civil aviation administration in January 1957. In April 1988 the Civil Aviation Administration of China approved the use of the China Eastern Airlines Corporation name. The formal establishment of the airline followed in June. These administrative changes marked the transition from the earlier aviation organisation to the China Eastern identity.[4]Sixtieth anniversary historical chronologyChina Eastern Airlines · global.ceair.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
International and corporate development
China Eastern introduced the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 on its Shanghai–Los Angeles route in 1991, a significant step in its long-haul development. It joined the International Air Transport Association in 1993. In 1997 its shares were listed in New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The listings formed part of the airline’s corporate development during the expansion of Chinese civil aviation.[4]Sixtieth anniversary historical chronologyChina Eastern Airlines · global.ceair.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
SkyTeam membership
China Eastern and subsidiary Shanghai Airlines joined SkyTeam on 21 June 2011. China Eastern became the alliance’s fourteenth member, bringing a substantial Shanghai-based operation into the partnership. The membership connected the two airlines with other SkyTeam networks and passenger benefits, extending their reach through cooperation as well as directly operated flights.[2]China Eastern joins SkyTeamKLM / SkyTeam · news.klm.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
C919 introduction
COMAC delivered the first C919 to China Eastern on 9 December 2022. The aircraft, registered B-919A, flew from Shanghai Pudong to Shanghai Hongqiao as part of the handover. China Eastern established a dedicated C919 flight department and prepared pilots for the new type. The C919 completed its first commercial flight on 28 May 2023, marking the transition from certification and delivery to passenger service.[3]First C919 delivered to China EasternCOMAC · english.comac.cc · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[5]C919 programme milestonesCOMAC · english.comac.cc · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details