Beijing Capital Airlines: China’s Rising Carrier

Beijing Capital Airlines, commonly known as Capital Airlines, has emerged as a significant player in China’s aviation landscape. As a subsidiary of the larger Hainan Airlines Group, this low-cost carrier has been steadily expanding its presence in both domestic and international markets. Let’s explore the history, operations, and future outlook of this growing Chinese airline.

History

Beijing Capital Airlines traces its roots back to 1995 when it was established as Deer Jet Airlines. The company began offering international services in 1998 under the Deer Air branding. A significant transition occurred in October 2007 when the airline received its first Airbus A319 and started phasing out its Boeing 737 fleet.

The airline’s current identity took shape on May 4, 2010, when Deer Jet Airlines was divided into two separate entities . While the charter operation retained the Deer Jet branding, the scheduled operations using Airbus aircraft were rebranded as Beijing Capital Airlines. This strategic restructuring was facilitated through a partnership between the Beijing Municipal Government and HNA Group.

The transformation marked a new chapter for the airline as it began focusing on scheduled passenger services within China and gradually expanding to international destinations. Since 2015, the airline has been operating long-haul flights to destinations outside of China, beginning with the delivery of its first A330 in July of that year .

Over the years, Beijing Capital Airlines has steadily developed its route network and fleet size. The company is headquartered at Beijing Capital International Airport, though in September 2019, it announced the relocation of some of its operations to the newly opened Beijing Daxing International Airport .

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Beijing Capital Airlines Co., Ltd.
• Founded: 1995 (as Deer Jet Airlines), rebranded in 2010
• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• Main Hub: Beijing Daxing International Airport
• Parent Company: Hainan Airlines (part of HNA Group)
• IATA Code: JD
• ICAO Code: CBJ
• Airline Type: Low-cost carrier
• Focus: Domestic and international scheduled services

Fleet

Beijing Capital Airlines operates an all-Airbus fleet, making it one of the largest Airbus operators in China. The airline’s commitment to a single manufacturer helps streamline maintenance operations and crew training.

As of recent data, the airline’s fleet consists of approximately 70-80 aircraft, all from the Airbus family . The fleet includes:

• Airbus A319: Smaller narrowbody aircraft primarily used for domestic routes
• Airbus A320: The backbone of the airline’s domestic operations
• Airbus A321: Larger narrowbody aircraft for high-demand domestic and regional routes
• Airbus A330: Widebody aircraft deployed on long-haul international routes

The airline has been modernizing its fleet over the years. In the narrowbody segment, Capital Airlines’ A321s typically seat around 220 passengers in an all-economy configuration . The A330s are configured to serve the airline’s growing international route network, particularly to destinations in Australia, Europe, and North America.

Beijing Capital Airlines has maintained its focus on Airbus products, which helps with operational efficiency and maintenance streamlining. The commitment to a single aircraft manufacturer family is part of the airline’s strategy to keep costs down while offering consistent service across its network.

Hubs and Network

Beijing Capital Airlines primarily operates from several key bases across China:

• Beijing Daxing International Airport: Main operational hub
• Beijing Capital International Airport: Former main hub, still maintains significant operations
• Regional Bases: The airline has established overnight operation bases in multiple cities including Haikou, Sanya, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Lijiang, Qingdao, Nanjing, and Chongqing

From these hubs, Beijing Capital Airlines serves an extensive network of destinations. The carrier provides both domestic and international scheduled and charter services . As of recent data, the airline operates dozens of routes, with the majority being domestic connections within China.

The domestic network covers major cities and tourist destinations throughout China. Key domestic routes include connections between Beijing and popular destinations such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Sanya, and many others .

On the international front, Beijing Capital Airlines has been gradually expanding its footprint. Notable international destinations have included:

• Australia: Melbourne, Sydney
• Canada: Vancouver
• Europe: Lisbon, Madrid, London
• Asia: Destinations in Japan, Thailand, and South Korea

The airline has developed codeshare agreements with several carriers to extend its network reach, allowing passengers to connect to destinations beyond its own route map.

Contact Information

For passengers looking to get in touch with Beijing Capital Airlines, the following contact information is available:

General Inquiries and Reservations:

• Phone: +86 898-95375 (24-hour hotline for mainland China and overseas)
• Email: sdhk95375@hnair.com

International Offices:

• London Branch: Email: jdlondon@jdair.net
• Lisbon Branch: Email: bcalisbon@jdair.net
• Madrid Branch: Email: jdmad@jdair.net
• Melbourne Branch: Email: jdmel@jdair.net

Headquarters: Beijing Capital Airlines Co., Ltd. 3 North Cargo Road Beijing Capital International Airport Shunyi District Beijing 100621, China

Website: intl.jdair.net

Social Media: While the airline maintains a modest social media presence, passengers are encouraged to use the official website or contact the airline directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Services and Amenities

Beijing Capital Airlines operates as a low-cost carrier, offering competitive fares with various service options. The airline provides two main cabin classes:

Economy Class:

• Standard seating with adequate legroom
• Light snacks and beverages on all flights
• In-flight entertainment on select flights, particularly on longer routes

Business Class:

• Available on select routes, particularly international services
• Enhanced comfort with premium seating
• Priority check-in and boarding
• Improved dining options
• Access to airport lounges where available

Baggage allowances vary depending on the route and fare type. Typically, Economy Class passengers are entitled to one carry-on bag with a maximum weight of 5 kg, while Business Class passengers can bring two carry-on items with a combined weight of up to 10 kg.

Future of Beijing Capital Airlines

The future outlook for Beijing Capital Airlines includes several key development areas:

Fleet Modernization: The airline continues to invest in modernizing its fleet. While specific new orders haven’t been widely published, the carrier is likely to follow the broader industry trend of upgrading to newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. As part of the HNA Group, fleet planning may be coordinated with the parent company’s overall strategy.

Network Expansion: Beijing Capital Airlines has shown interest in expanding its international presence, particularly to key tourism and business destinations. Recent reports indicate plans for new services to European cities, with routes to destinations like Lisbon and Belgrade under consideration. The airline has also been exploring additional routes to Australia and North America.

Operational Improvements: The airline is working on enhancing its operational efficiency and service quality. One notable development is the implementation of accessibility improvements, with Beijing Capital Airlines committing to make air travel more accessible for passengers with disabilities.

Digital Transformation: Like many airlines globally, Beijing Capital Airlines is investing in digital technologies to improve the passenger experience. The airline has been working on making its website more accessible and user-friendly, with compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 as a target.

Sustainable Growth: As stated in their corporate profile, Beijing Capital Airlines aims to maintain “healthy and rapid development through steady expansion of fleet size and improvement on operations and management quality.” The airline has ambitions to exceed RMB 10 billion in both annual revenue and brand value.

New Partnerships: Expanding codeshare agreements and potential alliances could be part of the airline’s strategy to extend its network reach without the need for direct investment in new routes.

Post-Pandemic Recovery: Like all airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines is navigating the recovery phase after the COVID-19 pandemic. The carrier is likely focusing on rebuilding its network and passenger numbers to pre-pandemic levels before accelerating expansion plans.

Competitive Position

As a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines Group, Beijing Capital Airlines benefits from being part of one of China’s largest airline conglomerates. This provides advantages in terms of resource sharing, network coordination, and operational synergies.

In the domestic market, Beijing Capital Airlines competes with China’s “Big Three” carriers (Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern) as well as other low-cost and regional airlines. Its strategy of operating as a low-cost carrier with a growing international presence allows it to target both price-sensitive domestic travelers and the expanding outbound Chinese tourism market.

The airline’s focus on secondary cities and tourist destinations also helps it develop niches where competition from larger carriers may be less intense. As travel demand within China continues to grow, particularly from emerging middle-class consumers in tier 2 and 3 cities, Beijing Capital Airlines is well-positioned to capture this expanding market segment.

Beijing Capital Airlines represents China’s growing aviation ambitions, evolving from a domestic carrier to an airline with increasing international presence. As China’s aviation market continues to develop as one of the world’s largest, Beijing Capital Airlines is likely to play a significant role in connecting China with the rest of the world.

Keyword: TopAirlines