Xiamen Airlines: China's First Airline Joint Venture, 40 Years On

History and positioning

Its origin as a pioneering joint venture in 1984, the first of its kind in China, makes Xiamen Airlines a special case among Chinese carriers, predating by years the liberalization that would lead to the birth of many other regional carriers.

The fleet

For decades Xiamen Airlines operated an all-Boeing fleet, with 737s (up to the MAX 8) and widebody 787 Dreamliners for long-haul: an "all-Boeing" policy that only recently came to an end with the arrival of the first Airbus A320neos on domestic routes, marking a turning point in fleet strategy.

Routes and network

The combination of 737s and 787s lets the airline cover both regional Asian routes and direct intercontinental links from Xiamen, a breadth of network that is uncommon among Chinese regional carriers of comparable size.

On board and service

As a SkyTeam member, those who collect miles on this program can credit Xiamen Airlines flights directly, with connection benefits at airports and partner carriers around the world.

Xiamen Airlines is a good choice for those departing from southeastern China for Asia or abroad on a direct flight who want to earn SkyTeam miles, less relevant for those looking specifically for an Airbus cabin, since the fleet remains overwhelmingly Boeing. If you collect SkyTeam miles, credit the flight to the program you use most within the alliance at the time of booking, not afterward: some Xiamen Airlines promotional fares are not mileage-eligible after the fact.