Hainan Airlines and Sichuan Airlines are two full-service Chinese carriers outside the global alliances. Travellers compare them on domestic trunk routes and on China to Europe, North America and Australasia flights. Hainan is based in Haikou with hubs including Beijing, Shenzhen and Xi'an, while Sichuan is based in Chengdu in western China.
Quick verdict
Hainan Airlines is the stronger pick for long-haul comfort. It offers a five-star Skytrax-rated product, a 1-2-1 business class on its newer widebodies and premium economy on newer 787-9s. Sichuan Airlines suits travellers starting or ending in Chengdu, Chongqing or Kunming who want a direct service or a convenient western China connection. Check the aircraft for your date, because older Sichuan narrow-bodies and some Hainan widebodies have older cabins.
Choose Hainan Airlines if…
- You want a premium economy option, available on newer 787-9s only, or a 1-2-1 business seat.
- You are flying via Beijing, Shenzhen, Haikou or Xi'an, or to Europe, North America or Oceania.
- You value a Skytrax five-star rating and your own lounges at Beijing T1, Haikou, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Ürümqi.
Choose Sichuan Airlines if…
- You are flying from Chengdu, Chongqing or Kunming, including Chengdu to Vancouver or Melbourne.
- You want a larger domestic and regional network, with about 150 destinations.
- You want to book an A350-900 with 28 business seats, or a newer A320neo or A321neo on shorter routes.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Hainan's main base is Haikou. Its hubs are Beijing Capital, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Xi'an, so it covers the east and south coast and the capital well. It lists about 120 destinations across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
Sichuan is built around Chengdu Shuangliu and Tianfu, plus Chongqing and Kunming. It lists about 151 destinations. Its first long-haul routes were Chengdu to Vancouver (2012) and Melbourne (2013).
Cabins and seats
Hainan has the clearer long-haul product. Business is 1-2-1 reverse herringbone with 45 in pitch on the A330-300, and the A330-200 and older 787s are 2-2-2. Premium economy is on newer 787-9s only, with 38 in pitch. Long-haul economy is 32 in.
Sichuan offers business and economy cabins only. The A350-900 has 28 business seats and 303 economy seats. A320-family aircraft have a small business cabin of about 8 seats. Seat details vary by aircraft, so check before booking.
Fleet and renewal
Hainan operates a mixed Boeing and Airbus fleet of about 227 aircraft, led by 737-800s, 737 MAX 8s and 28 787-9s. It has 87 aircraft on order, including A320neo-family and A330-900 jets. It retired its 787-8s in 2026.
Sichuan is all-Airbus, with about 204 aircraft. It has nine A350-900s and widebody A330s. Its orders are small: three A350-900s, six neos and 20 Comac C919s.
Loyalty, lounges and alliances
Neither airline belongs to an alliance, so status does not carry over to partners such as SkyTeam, Star Alliance or oneworld. Hainan runs its own lounges at Beijing (Terminal 1), Haikou, Xi'an, Guangzhou and Ürümqi, and its programme is Fortune Wings Club.
Sichuan's programme is Golden Panda Club. Higher tiers get lounge access, upgrades and extra baggage allowance.
Ownership and recent news
Hainan's parent HNA Group went through bankruptcy restructuring in 2021, and the airline is now under Liaoning Fangda Group-backed ownership. In July 2026 it announced an order for 40 A320neo-family aircraft, with deliveries from 2028 to 2032.
Sichuan is owned by Sichuan Airlines Group (40%), China Southern (39%), China Eastern (10%) and Air China Group (10%). Trade press reported an investigation of executives in March 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hainan Airlines better than Sichuan Airlines?
On long-haul comfort, generally yes. Hainan has a Skytrax five-star rating and offers premium economy on newer 787-9s. Sichuan is the better fit if you are flying from Chengdu or western China.
Which airline has premium economy?
Hainan, on its newer Boeing 787-9s only. Sichuan has business and economy cabins.
Are Hainan and Sichuan in an alliance?
No. Neither belongs to SkyTeam, Star Alliance or oneworld. Hainan uses Fortune Wings Club and Sichuan uses Golden Panda Club.
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 Sichuan Airlines Read more
Overview
Sichuan Airlines is described by Wikipedia as the largest airline in Western China. It was established on 19 September 1986 and operated its first flight on 14 July 1988, between Chengdu and Wanzhou. It was restructured as Sichuan Airlines Co., Ltd. in 2002. Shareholders are Sichuan Airlines Group (40%), China Southern (39%), China Eastern (10%), Air China Group (10%) and Chengdu Gingko Restaurant (1%). Its headquarters are at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It does not belong to a global alliance. It owns Chengdu Airlines, a regional carrier. Trade press reported in late 2025 that a Chinese state-owned enterprise had formalised a 45.8% stake in the Sichuan Airlines Group (ch-aviation).
Network and hubs
The airline lists hubs at Chengdu Shuangliu, Chengdu Tianfu, Chongqing Jiangbei and Kunming Changshui. Focus cities include Beijing Capital, Harbin, Hangzhou, Lhasa, Nanning, Sanya and Xi'an. Wikipedia gives 151 destinations. Most flying is within East Asia. Other destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Western Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Its first long-haul route, Chengdu to Vancouver, began in June 2012, and Melbourne followed in February 2013. Chengdu to Male is flown with the A321LR. AeroRoutes reports regional service changes at Chengdu from late July 2026.
Fleet
As of October 2025, Wikipedia lists an all-Airbus fleet of 213 aircraft, including 9 freighters. Passenger types and in-service numbers are:
- A319-100: 18
- A320-200: 55
- A320neo: 38
- A321-200: 46
- A321neo: 21
- A321LR: 6
- A330-200: 4
- A330-300: 7
- A350-900: 9
Orders include three A350-900s, three A320neos, three A321neos and 20 Comac C919s. In December 2025, ch-aviation reported that the airline planned to sell six A320-200s.
On board
Wikipedia's fleet table shows business and economy cabins. An A320-200 seats about 8 in business and 150 in economy. The A350-900 seats 28 in business and 303 in economy, 331 in total. The A330-300 seats 24 to 36 in business, depending on the aircraft. Seat pitch, meal service, entertainment and Wi-Fi vary by aircraft and route. Check these on the official website before booking.
Good to know
- Loyalty programme: Golden Panda Club. Higher-tier members receive free upgrades, lounge access and extra baggage allowance, according to Wikipedia.
- Baggage allowances and change fees depend on fare and route. Confirm them on the airline's website.
- No published on-time figure was found for this profile.
- In March 2026, ch-aviation reported that executives at the airline were under investigation for violations.
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