China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern Airlines (MU), one of China's 'Big Three' carriers, was founded on June 25, 1988, in Shanghai as part of aviation reforms under the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Headquartered in Minhang, Shanghai, it has grown into the second-largest airline by passenger traffic, operating a vast network of 232 destinations across Asia, North America, Australia, and beyond.

The airline joined SkyTeam in 2011 (alongside subsidiary Shanghai Airlines), enabling seamless connections with partners like Delta Air Lines (a key equity stakeholder), Air France, and KLM. Primary hubs are Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), supporting extensive domestic routes and international expansion, including the world's longest route to Madrid-Lima via codeshares.

China Eastern operates a modern fleet of 680 aircraft with an average age of 9.6 years, featuring Airbus A320 family for short-haul, widebodies like A350 and B777 for long-haul, and pioneering Chinese-made COMAC C919 and ARJ21 jets—making it a launch customer for domestic innovation.

As a full-service carrier, it offers premium classes including Business Plus suites, complimentary meals, and Eastern Miles loyalty program. Distinctive for its rapid growth through mergers (e.g., Shanghai Airlines in 2010, China United Airlines), Delta partnership for U.S. transits, and 2025 slogan 'Connecting all the wonders of the world.' Despite a 3-Star Skytrax rating and mixed reviews on service, it excels in value and network reach, serving over 100 million passengers annually pre-pandemic.