Hainan Airlines is a Chinese passenger airline established in Hainan Province in 1993. Its first route linked Haikou with Beijing, and subsequent development added domestic bases and international services beyond its island home.[1]Company history and profileHainan Airlines · hainanairlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]2018 social responsibility report: historical milestonesHainan Airlines · hainanairlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Formation and first flights
Hainan Airlines held its founding conference in Haikou in October 1992. The company dates its establishment to January 1993. Its first passenger aircraft arrived from Seattle in April, ahead of the opening of the Haikou–Beijing service on 2 May 1993. These successive events distinguish the organisation of the company, aircraft delivery and the beginning of passenger operations.[2]2018 social responsibility report: historical milestonesHainan Airlines · hainanairlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[1]Company history and profileHainan Airlines · hainanairlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Network development
The airline expanded beyond Haikou into a network of domestic and overseas services. Its published profile identifies operational bases and branches in cities including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, alongside its original Hainan base. The wider network described by the company includes subsidiaries, so group route totals should not be read as the number of routes flown solely under the Hainan Airlines brand.[1]Company history and profileHainan Airlines · hainanairlines.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
First Dreamliner
Boeing and Hainan Airlines marked delivery of the carrier’s first 787 Dreamliner in July 2013. The airline associated the new aircraft with growth in North American services. The delivery introduced a newer long-haul aircraft family into a business that had begun twenty years earlier with a domestic route from Haikou.[3]Hainan Airlines receives first 787Boeing · boeing.mediaroom.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
The 787-9 generation
Hainan received its first stretched 787-9 in June 2016 through a lease from Air Lease Corporation. Boeing identified Hainan as China’s first operator of both the 787-8 and 787-9. The longer variant supplemented the airline’s existing 787-8 fleet and was intended to support additional nonstop international services. The aircraft’s delivery also marked Air Lease Corporation’s first 787-9 handover.[4]Hainan Airlines receives first 787-9Boeing · boeing.mediaroom.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details