Spring Airlines

The airline was given approval to be established on 26 May 2004. Its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 (formerly Lotus Air's), was delivered on 12 July 2005, at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Spring Airlines started operations on 18 July 2005 and the first flight on that day was between Shanghai and Yantai. Daily flights to Guilin were also initiated.

To keep operating costs low, Spring sells tickets exclusively from its ch.com website (and some designated ticket offices), bypassing travel agents. Spring no longer offers complimentary on-board meals nor complimentary water; however, passengers may purchase meals and beverages on board. In December 2006, the airline offered a 1-yuan promotional price which caused trouble with government officials."China's Spring Airlines", Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 1, 2007.

In late July 2009, Spring's plan to establish overseas routes was granted by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of the People's Republic of China, making it the first budget airline in China to explore the international market. The airline had plans to operate short-distance routes linking mainland Chinese cities to Hong Kong and Macau, as well as neighboring countries such as Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.

On July 29, 2010, Spring Airlines launched its first international route linking its home city Shanghai and Japan's Ibaraki Airport, about 80 kilometers northeast of Tokyo.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} 2 months later, on September 28, the airline successfully introduced its first flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong with almost full passengers on board.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} Spring's daily flights from Shanghai to Macau commenced on 8 April 2011http://www.businessnewsmacau.com/2011/04/spring-airlines-launched-shanghai-%E2%80%93-macau-service-from-8-april-2011/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323175919/http://www.businessnewsmacau.com/2011/04/spring-airlines-launched-shanghai-%E2%80%93-macau-service-from-8-april-2011/ |date=2012-03-23 }} 12 April 2011 with further international destinations following in the second half of 2011.

Since January 2015, the company has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Spring Airlines also operates a subsidiary in Japan and is the first Chinese airline to do so.{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Ying|title=Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion|url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2011-08/30/content_13217409.htm|access-date=2 September 2013|newspaper=China Daily|date=30 August 2011}}

File:SpringAirLogo.svg

The Spring Airlines logo is designed with the initials "S" of Spring Airlines. It is composed of three overlapping and intersecting S's, which represents interaction, unity, and connection.

Spring Airlines' 3S logo stands for Safety, Smile, and Sincerity.

Spring Airlines' signature move of flying whenever you want is sliding the right palm toward the top of the left shoulder, symbolizing the ideal soaring into the sky.{{cite web | url=https://www.ch.com/Static/AboutUs | title=Spring Airlines and Spring International Travel Introduction, Company Introduction}}

{{multiple image

| align = center

| direction = horizontal

| width =

| image1 = Airbus A320-214, Spring Airlines JP7631254.jpg

| width1 = 200

| alt1 =

| caption1 = A Airbus A320 in the first generation livery at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

| image2 = B-6751 - Spring Airlines - Airbus A320-214 - CAN (14802028755).jpg

| width2 = 200

| alt2 =

| caption2 = A Airbus A320-214 in the second generation livery at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

| image3 = 20230602 B-6705 at CGO 02.jpg

| width3 = 200

| alt3 =

| caption3 = An Airbus A320-214 in the current 2021 livery at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.

| header = History of Spring Airlines liveries

| header_align = center

| header_background =

| footer =

| footer_align = center

| footer_background =

| background color =

}}

File:B-6349 Airbus A320 Spring Airlines (12177224475).jpg

File:Spring Airlines ,9C8589 ,Airbus A320-214 ,B-6863 ,Arrived from Shanghai ,Kansai Airport (16662493725).jpg

File:Spring Airlines aircraft with passenger boarding stairs @ PVG.jpg

{{As of|2024|11}}, Spring Airlines flies to the following destinations:

Spring Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Eastar Jet{{cite news|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190724004300320|title=Eastar Jet signs code-sharing deal with Chinese LCC|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|date=24 July 2019}}

{{As of|2025|5}}, Spring Airlines operates an all-Airbus A320 family fleet composed of the following aircraft:{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

File:20240420 Airbus A320-214(WL) of Spring Airlines (B-8327) at CGO 02.jpg

• On 6 June 2014, at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, an Airbus A320 operated by Spring Airlines experienced a runway excursion on the right side of the runway and struck a runway light. The pilot then attempted to go around, causing a tail strike. There were no injuries, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. An investigation was conducted by China's Accident Investigation Board.{{cite web | url=http://avherald.com/h?article=47600c66&opt=0 | title=Accident: Spring A320 at Xiamen on Jun 6th 2014, runway excursion and tail strike on go around }}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Spring Airlines}}

• {{official website}}

{{Portalbar|Companies|Aviation}}

{{Navbox Airlines of the People's Republic of China}}

Category:Airlines of China

Category:Airlines established in 2004

Category:Chinese companies established in 2004

Category:Low-cost carriers of China

Category:Airlines based in Shanghai

Category:Companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange

Category:Chinese brands