Sichuan Airlines: The Chengdu Carrier Flying the A350 to Europe

History and positioning

The airline is tied to shareholders from Sichuan province, after the stake once held by the HNA group was reduced in the group's corporate restructuring. Chengdu, with its two airports Shuangliu and Tianfu, is one of the main gateways to southwest China, and Sichuan Airlines is its reference carrier.

The fleet

The fleet combines the Airbus A320 family for short and medium-haul routes with a growing number of Airbus A350-900s for long-haul: a step up in category that is uncommon among Chinese regional carriers, allowing direct intercontinental flights from Chengdu without going through the Beijing or Shanghai hubs.

Routes and network

Besides the intercontinental routes flown with the A350, Sichuan Airlines' domestic network serves southwest China extensively, including high-altitude destinations toward the Tibetan plateau, where operating conditions require specifically certified crews and aircraft.

What the Skytrax certification says

The 3-star Skytrax rating places Sichuan Airlines in the middle tier of the world's carriers for service quality, a level consistent with a regional carrier in the process of expanding into long-haul rather than with an established premium brand.

Sichuan Airlines is an interesting choice for anyone who wants to fly from Chengdu directly to Europe or North America on the A350 without a stop in Beijing or Shanghai; if instead you expect a premium service standard comparable to 4- and 5-star carriers, the 3-star Skytrax rating should be taken into account. Practical tip: when booking, always check the aircraft type assigned to your intercontinental route, because not all frequencies on the same route use the flagship A350.