China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA) launches a new branch in Hainan island and plans to deploy 50 aircraft to the new location. 

The newly-established branch of China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA), called China Eastern Airlines Hainan, is headquartered in Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX). 

It will connect Haikou, the capital of Hainan, and Sanya, the southernmost city of the island. The new branch will also provide connectivity services between Hainan island and mainland China as well as other destinations on the China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA) network, the airline revealed in a statement on September 16, 2021, seen by local media. 

China Eastern expects that the newly-launched Hainan branch will serve as “a premium express line” between the two cities.

China Eastern said it plans to deploy 50 jets at the SYX airport base but did not reveal what type of planes they will be.

“With the establishment of the Hainan branch, the new era of China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA) will extend its market map to the south”, was written in the statement. 

In the future, the air carrier plans to “increase its investment in capacity in Hainan” as well as to “expand its network from Hainan to the whole country and the world” and “continuously optimize its route network.”