China Eastern Airlines and Air China are two of China's three major carriers, and travellers often compare them on the same international routes, such as Europe, North America or Southeast Asia to mainland China. China Eastern is Shanghai-based and a SkyTeam member. Air China is the Beijing-based flag carrier and belongs to Star Alliance.
Quick verdict
Both are full-service airlines, so the choice usually comes down to where you are going and which alliance you collect miles in. China Eastern suits travellers heading to Shanghai and eastern China, or those who use Delta and other SkyTeam partners. Air China suits those routing through Beijing or Chengdu, or those loyal to Star Alliance carriers. Check the aircraft and fare on your own booking, as cabins and baggage vary.
Choose China Eastern Airlines if…
- You are flying to or via Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao, or to Kunming or Xi'an.
- You collect miles with SkyTeam partners such as Delta Air Lines.
- You want a Premium Economy option, which is fitted on A350s, 787s and all A320neos.
Choose Air China if…
- You are flying to or via Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing or Chengdu.
- You collect miles with Star Alliance partners through PhoenixMiles.
- You want a flag carrier whose group also includes Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Air Macau.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
China Eastern's main hubs are Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Kunming and Xi'an, with secondary hubs including Beijing Daxing, Chengdu Tianfu and Hangzhou. It lists 232 destinations. Air China's main hubs are Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Chengdu Shuangliu and Chengdu Tianfu, with Shanghai Pudong as a secondary hub, and it serves 218 destinations. In practice, China Eastern is stronger for eastern and southwestern China, and Air China for the north and Sichuan.
Alliances and loyalty
China Eastern belongs to SkyTeam and runs the Eastern Miles programme with Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers. Delta Air Lines holds 3.55% of the airline. Air China belongs to Star Alliance and runs PhoenixMiles. Cathay Pacific holds 18.13% of Air China, which also holds 29.9% of Cathay. Pick the airline that matches the alliance where your miles and status already sit.
Cabins and seats
China Eastern offers Business, Premium Economy on selected aircraft, and Economy. Business varies: narrowbodies have 2-2 recliner seats, while some A330s have 1-2-1 or lie-flat 2-2-2 layouts. Premium Economy is fitted on all A320neos, A350s, 737 MAXs and 787s. Air China's layouts also differ by aircraft type and route, so check the aircraft on your specific flight before booking.
Baggage
Air China's Economy cabin allowance is one piece of up to 5 kg, per MyBaggage. Checked allowance depends on route and fare, with two bags common on US–China fares but only one on some basic fares. China Eastern's allowances also vary by route and fare. For both airlines, confirm the allowance on your booking.
Fleet and Wi-Fi
China Eastern had 685 aircraft in service and 291 on order in December 2025, and was the launch customer of the Comac C919. Air China had 533 aircraft in February 2026, and its wider group operated 972 at mid-2026. In July 2026 the board approved 15 more A350-900s. On board, China Eastern offers free Wi-Fi on widebody flights in all classes, and Economy includes a complimentary meal.
Frequently asked questions
Is China Eastern better than Air China?
Neither is better across the board. China Eastern is stronger around Shanghai and eastern China and is in SkyTeam, while Air China is stronger around Beijing and Chengdu and is in Star Alliance.
Which alliance are China Eastern and Air China in?
China Eastern is a SkyTeam member, and Air China is a Star Alliance member.
Does Air China include checked baggage?
It depends on the route and fare. Two free bags are common on US–China Economy fares, but some basic fares include only one, so check your booking.
About China Eastern Airlines Read more
Overview
China Eastern Airlines is one of China's three major airlines, alongside Air China and China Southern. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 25 June 1988 and is headquartered in Minhang, Shanghai. It is listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and its parent is China Eastern Air Holding Company; Delta Air Lines holds 3.55%. The airline is a member of SkyTeam, whose fact sheet (updated August 2026) describes it as one of China's three major aviation groups. Its subsidiaries include Shanghai Airlines, China United Airlines, China Eastern Yunnan Airlines and China Cargo Airlines.
Network and hubs
Main hubs are Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Kunming and Xi'an. Secondary hubs include Beijing Daxing, Chengdu Tianfu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Qingdao and Wuhan. Wikipedia lists 232 destinations. The SkyTeam fact sheet cites a fleet of over 800 aircraft for the wider group and about 150 million annual passengers.
Fleet
Wikipedia's fleet table, dated December 2025, shows 685 aircraft in service with a further 291 on order. Types include:
- Airbus A320 family, including A321neo
- Airbus A330-200 and A330-300, with A330-900 deliveries planned from 2029
- Airbus A350-900
- Boeing 737-700, 737-800 and 737 MAX 8
- Boeing 777-300ER and 787-9
- Comac C909 and C919, with China Eastern the launch customer of the C919
On board
Business class varies by aircraft. Narrow-body aircraft have 2-2 recliner seats, while some A330s have 1-2-1 or lie-flat 2-2-2 layouts. Premium Economy is fitted on all A320neos, A350s, 737 MAXs and 787s, and on selected A330-300s and 737-800s. Economy includes a complimentary meal, and selected widebody aircraft have seatback entertainment. A July 2026 report cited by Wikipedia says widebody flights now offer free Wi-Fi in all classes.
Good to know
- Baggage allowances and change fees vary by route and fare. Check the official website before travelling.
- The loyalty programme is Eastern Miles, with Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers. Shanghai Airlines and China United Airlines also take part.
- As a SkyTeam member, it offers connections and lounge access with partners such as Delta Air Lines.
- Safety: Flight MU5735, operated by subsidiary China Eastern Yunnan, crashed on 21 March 2022.
- Published on-time performance and typical fare data were not found for this profile.
About Air China Read more
Overview
Air China is China's flag carrier, founded on 1 July 1988 and headquartered in the Tianzhu Airport Industrial Zone, Shunyi District, Beijing. It is listed in Shanghai, Hong Kong and London. Its parent, Air China Group, holds 53.46%, and Cathay Pacific holds 18.13%. The airline is a member of Star Alliance. Its frequent-flyer programme is PhoenixMiles.
Network and hubs
According to Wikipedia, the main hubs are Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Chengdu Shuangliu and Chengdu Tianfu, with Shanghai Pudong as a secondary hub. Focus cities include Chongqing, Dalian, Hangzhou, Hohhot, Hong Kong, Kunming, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Wuhan. The airline serves 218 destinations in total (Wikipedia, 2026). The group also includes Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Air Macau and Dalian Airlines, and Air China holds 29.9% of Cathay Pacific.
Fleet
Flightradar24 reported an active Air China fleet of 533 aircraft in February 2026, a mix of narrowbodies, widebodies and regional jets. This makes it the third-largest Chinese airline by fleet. The wider Air China group operated 972 aircraft at mid-2026 (Airbus 452, Boeing 471, COMAC 46, business jets 3), according to the 2026 interim results presentation. It added 17 narrowbodies in the first half of 2026. In July 2026 the board approved the introduction of 15 more A350-900 aircraft (2026 Interim Report).
On board
Air China began offering free on-board Wi-Fi on 15 November 2011, the first Chinese carrier to do so, according to Wikipedia. Cabin layouts, seat pitch and entertainment differ by aircraft type and route. Check the airline's website for the aircraft on a specific flight, as no verified figures were available for this profile.
Good to know
- Cabin baggage: MyBaggage gives the Economy limit as one piece of up to 5 kg and 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Business and First Class passengers may carry up to two pieces of up to 8 kg, according to Stasher.
- Checked baggage: It depends on the route and fare. Third-party guides report 20 kg in Economy on domestic flights. They report two free bags on most international Economy fares such as US–China, but only one on some basic fares. Confirm the allowance on the booking.
- Loyalty: PhoenixMiles is linked to Star Alliance.
- Lounge access, change fees and punctuality figures were not confirmed in the sources used.
Sources (4)
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