Hainan Airlines vs China Southern Airlines
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Researched and checked: 11 Oct 2026
Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines are both full-service Chinese carriers with long-haul networks. Hainan flies to Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, while China Southern links Europe and Australia through Guangzhou. Travellers compare them on routes out of mainland China, where both serve Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. China Southern is one of China's "Big Three"; Hainan is China's largest civilian-run air transport company.
Quick verdict
China Southern suits travellers who want the widest network, with hubs at Guangzhou, Beijing-Daxing and Shenzhen and a much larger fleet. Hainan suits those who care most about the long-haul cabin: it holds a Skytrax five-star rating and offers a 1-2-1 business class and premium economy on its newer 787-9s. Neither belongs to a global alliance now, so check each flight's cabin and fare rules before booking.
Choose Hainan Airlines if…
- You want a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone business seat, with 45 in pitch on the A330-300.
- You want premium economy, available on the newer 787-9s only.
- You value a Skytrax five-star airline, named Best Airline in China in 2024.
Choose China Southern Airlines if…
- You want the largest choice of destinations, with 233 listed and hubs at Guangzhou, Beijing-Daxing and Shenzhen.
- You are connecting between Europe and Australia via Guangzhou on the airline's Canton Route.
- You collect miles through Sky Pearl Club, which also earns on partners such as Sichuan Airlines.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
China Southern is based in Guangzhou, with Beijing-Daxing and Shenzhen as main hubs and Chongqing, Shanghai-Pudong, Ürümqi, Wuhan and Zhengzhou as secondary hubs. It lists 233 destinations and promotes a Canton Route linking Europe and Australia via Guangzhou. Hainan is based in Haikou, with hubs at Beijing Capital, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Xi'an, and lists about 120 destinations. Both overlap at Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, but China Southern offers more connections.
Fleet size
China Southern operates 708 aircraft in its mainline fleet (December 2025), or 972 including cargo aircraft and subsidiaries. Hainan has 227 aircraft with 87 on order (July 2026), mostly Boeing 737-800s, 737 MAX 8s and 787-9s. In July 2026 it announced an order for 40 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, to be delivered between 2028 and 2032. Hainan retired its 787-8s in September 2026. A larger fleet gives China Southern more frequencies on many routes.
Cabins and seats
Both sell Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Hainan's business class is 1-2-1 reverse herringbone on the A330-300 and a similar design on newer 787-9s. Its A330-200s and older 787s use 2-2-2 layouts. Premium economy is on the newer 787-9s only, with 38 in pitch. Long-haul economy is 32 in. China Southern has lie-flat business seats with privacy dividers on long-haul aircraft, and it once offered First Class on some. Cabins on both airlines vary by aircraft, so check your flight.
Entertainment
Hainan's long-haul aircraft have seatback screens of 9-12 in in economy, 13 in in premium economy and up to 16 in in business. Newer aircraft also have USB ports. China Southern has personal screens on some long-haul aircraft, but this varies by aircraft type.
Loyalty, alliances and lounges
China Southern was a SkyTeam member from 2007 and is no longer listed in any alliance. Hainan is in none of the three. Frequent flyers use Sky Pearl Club (China Southern) or Fortune Wings Club (Hainan). Hainan runs its own lounges at Beijing Terminal 1, Haikou, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Ürümqi, plus a transit lounge in Beijing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hainan Airlines better than China Southern?
Hainan stands out for its long-haul cabin: it has a Skytrax five-star rating and a 1-2-1 business class. China Southern has the bigger network and fleet, so it usually offers more routes and connections.
Which has more legroom in economy?
Hainan's long-haul economy pitch is 32 in. China Southern's seat pitch varies by aircraft, so compare using the seat map for your flight.
Are Hainan Airlines and China Southern in the same alliance?
No. Neither is a member of a global alliance now. China Southern was in SkyTeam from 2007 but is no longer listed as a member.
About Hainan Airlines Read more
Overview
Hainan Airlines is headquartered in Haikou, Hainan, China, and was founded in October 1989. According to Wikipedia, it is China's largest civilian-run air transport company and the fourth-largest Chinese airline by fleet size. After parent HNA Group entered bankruptcy restructuring in 2021, the airline component came under Liaoning Fangda Group-backed ownership. The airline is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and is not a member of any of the three global alliances. Its subsidiaries include Beijing Capital Airlines, Lucky Air, Tianjin Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Fuzhou Airlines.
Network and hubs
The main base is Haikou Meilan International Airport. Hubs are Beijing Capital, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Xi'an, with focus cities including Changsha, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Sanya, Shanghai Pudong, Taiyuan and Ürümqi. The airline lists about 120 destinations. It links China with Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a fleet of 233 aircraft (as of September 2026). It comprises about 126 Boeing 737-800s, 32 737 MAX 8s, 28 787-9s, 22 Airbus A330-300s, 6 A330-200s, 10 A320neos, 2 A321neos and 1 A330-900. Hainan retired its Boeing 787-8s in September 2026. In July 2026 it announced an order for 40 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, with deliveries between 2028 and 2032. Some per-type counts are marked as needing citation.
On board
- Business class: 1-2-1 reverse herringbone seats with a 45 in pitch on the A330-300, and a similar design on newer 787-9s with the "Dream Feather" cabin. The A330-200 and older 787s have 2-2-2 layouts.
- Premium economy: only on newer 787-9s, with a 38 in pitch and a 13 in screen.
- Economy: 32 in pitch on long-haul flights, with 9–12 in personal screens and USB ports on newer aircraft.
Meal and Wi-Fi details were not confirmed from the sources reviewed. Check the airline website for the route you plan to fly. The airline holds a Skytrax five-star rating and was voted Best Airline in China by Skytrax in 2024.
Good to know
- Baggage allowances and change fees vary by route and fare. They were not confirmed here, so check the airline's website.
- Hainan operates its own lounges in Beijing (Terminal 1), Haikou, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Ürümqi.
- The loyalty programme is Fortune Wings Club.
- No published on-time performance figure was found.
About China Southern Airlines Read more
Overview
China Southern Airlines is one of China's "Big Three" carriers. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 1 July 1988 and began operating as China Southern Airlines on 1 February 1991. It is headquartered in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, and is a subsidiary of China Southern Air Holding. Its shares trade in Shanghai (600029) and Hong Kong (1055). The airline was a SkyTeam member from 2007 and is no longer listed as a member of any alliance.
Network and hubs
The main hubs are Guangzhou, Beijing–Daxing and Shenzhen. Secondary hubs include Chongqing, Shanghai–Pudong, Ürümqi, Wuhan and Zhengzhou. Wikipedia lists 233 destinations. The carrier has promoted a "Canton Route" linking Europe and Australia through Guangzhou, started with services from Guangzhou to London Heathrow.
Fleet
Wikipedia gives a December 2025 fleet of 708 aircraft for China Southern Airlines alone. The figure is 972 when cargo aircraft and subsidiaries are included. Subsidiaries and affiliates include Chongqing Airlines (60%), XiamenAir (55%), Xiongan Airlines and a 39% stake in Sichuan Airlines. The fleet includes Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Travellers should check the airline's website for the current breakdown by type.
On board
The airline sells Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins, and has previously offered a First Class on some long-haul aircraft. Wikipedia describes lie-flat Business seats with privacy dividers on long-haul aircraft, and personal screens in Economy on some types. Cabin products vary by aircraft, so check the specific flight. Meal and Wi-Fi details were not confirmed in the sources used.
Good to know
- Loyalty: the programme is Sky Pearl Club. Members can earn miles on China Southern flights and on codeshare partners, including Sichuan Airlines.
- Baggage and fees: allowances depend on route and fare. Check the booking page before travelling, as no figures were verified here.
- Punctuality: no published on-time figure was found.
Source: China Southern Airlines, Wikipedia, accessed 11 October 2026.
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