Shandong Airlines is a Chinese airline from Shandong province, majority-owned by Air China and based at Jinan Yaoqiang International, with Qingdao as another hub. Boeing 737s fly to about 73 destinations, mainly in China and East and Southeast Asia. It is not in an alliance and links to PhoenixMiles. Cabins are Business and Economy.
Shandong Airlines is a Chinese airline majority-owned by Air China, flying one of the world’s largest all-Boeing 737 fleets.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Shandong Airlines. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
Shandong Airlines is a Chinese airline headquartered in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, with hubs at Jinan Yaoqiang and Qingdao. Part of the Air China group, it flies Boeing 737s to 73 destinations, mostly domestic, and suits travellers heading to or from Shandong and the eastern Chinese coast.
Shandong Airlines Co., Ltd. was founded on 12 March 1994 and started flying that September with a single Xi'an Y-7-100 turboprop. In September 1997 it co-founded the New Star (Xinxing) Air Alliance with five other Chinese airlines, and in 1999 it became the first Chinese airline to fly the Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet on scheduled services. Its flight code is SC and its call sign SHANDONG.
Air China holds 51 percent and Shandong Aviation Group about 37 percent, which places the airline inside the Air China group alongside Shenzhen Airlines. The company has 13,544 employees and its head office is the Shandong Airlines Center on Jinan's Second Ring Road East. Xu Chuanyu is listed as president.
Jinan and Qingdao are the hubs, with focus cities at Beijing Capital, Chongqing, Xiamen and Yantai Penglai. Most flights link Shandong with cities across China. International flying started on 8 June 2004 with a Jinan to Singapore service via Shenzhen, and today regional routes reach East and Southeast Asia.
Shandong Airlines is not in a global alliance. It has nine codeshare partners, including Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Qingdao Airlines, EVA Air and Asiana Airlines.
Shandong Airlines is one of the biggest all-Boeing airlines in the world and the third-largest operator of the Boeing 737, with 140 aircraft in May 2026. In April 2014 it committed to 50 Boeing 737s, 16 of the older Next Generation model and 34 MAX. It ranked as China's ninth-largest airline in September 2026.
Checked against trusted sources:
Shandong Airlines official website
Shandong Airlines (IATA: SC, ICAO: CDG) is a Chinese airline founded in 1994 and based in Jinan, with hubs at Jinan and Qingdao. Majority-owned by Air China, it flies about 135 Boeing 737 passenger aircraft to around 73 destinations, mainly in China and East and Southeast Asia.
| Headquarters | Shandong Airlines Center, Jinan, Shandong, China |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Boeing 737-800, 737 MAX 8 |
| Frequent flyer | PhoenixMiles |
| Official website | sda.cn |
Flight routes
Jinan (TNA) departures5 destinations
Jinan (TNA) departures2 destinations
140 aircraft in May 2026, all Boeing 737: 118 737-800s, 15 737 MAX 8s, five 737-800 converted freighters for SDA Cargo and two stored 737-700s due to leave. Twenty more are on order, ten 737-800s and ten MAX 8s. The airline flew 737-300s until 2014 and Bombardier CRJ200 and CRJ700 regional jets until 2016 and 2017.
Two cabins are on sale at Shandong Airlines: Economy and Business. Not every Shandong Airlines route has all of them.
Full service
Front cabin
Air China’s frequent flyer programme, also used by Shandong Airlines.
Shandong Airlines uses PhoenixMiles, the Air China frequent flyer programme, so members earn and redeem miles across Air China group airlines.
Check your e-ticket for the exact Shandong Airlines allowance. It is set by the fare type, the cabin and the route, whether you start at TNA or another airport.
Domestic Chinese flights use a weight-based allowance; international flights may differ. Check your e-ticket.
Getting through check-in for Shandong Airlines is simpler in this order. Start online and finish at bag drop.
Where your flight allows it, check in on sda.cn or app with your surname and booking reference or e-ticket number.
Booking ref + surnamePack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic SC passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · IDGet to the airport with time for Shandong Airlines check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
Well before departureShandong Airlines desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your SC trip.
Shandong Airlines counterWays to pay less for a Shandong Airlines ticket, from the dates you choose to the fare type you buy.
Compare a full week of Shandong Airlines departures; midweek days are often priced below Fridays and Sundays.
Midweek flightsChinese New Year and October Golden Week are the busiest travel periods in China.
Chinese New YearA Shandong Airlines fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.
Baggage & changesSearch Shandong Airlines alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Shandong Airlines flightsOthers of this kind you opened on this device, so you can get back to them quickly.
Air China owns 51% of Shandong Airlines.
No. Its passenger fleet is all Boeing 737.
Yes, within the rules of your fare. Basic SC fares are the most restrictive, so check the fare conditions first and change the booking through Shandong Airlines or your travel agent.
Yes. Children under two usually travel on an adult’s lap with an infant ticket. Add the infant when you book and check Shandong Airlines’ rules on prams and car seats.
Search the SC flight number on Shandong Airlines’ website or app. Airport departure screens show the same status on the day.
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown Shandong Airlines.
Everything travellers ask before flying Shandong Airlines.
Checked against sda.cn and public aviation references, with a review each season.
Getting there
Shandong Airlines uses the IATA code SC and the ICAO code CDG. Its radio callsign is SHANDONG.
Shandong Airlines offers Economy class and Business class.
The Shandong Airlines baggage allowance depends on your route, cabin and fare. The Baggage allowance section of this guide gives 4 figures, by cabin and route where they differ. Check the allowance printed on your ticket before you pack.
Online check-in: yes. Check in on sda.cn. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
No, Shandong Airlines is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
Booking
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