Spring Airlines is a Chinese low-cost pioneer based at Shanghai Pudong, flying an all-economy Airbus A320-family fleet to about 100 destinations in China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, including Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai. It has no alliance or loyalty scheme listed. Cabin baggage is 7 kg, checked bags are bought by weight, and gate checks are strict.
Spring Airlines is a Shanghai-based budget carrier with one of the largest China–Thailand networks.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Spring Airlines. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
Spring Airlines was China's first privately run low-cost airline. It grew out of a Shanghai travel agency, won approval in May 2004 and took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 previously flown by Lotus Air, on 12 July 2005 and flew its first service, Shanghai to Yantai, on 18 July 2005. Its head office is in Changning, Shanghai, and it keeps bases at Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong, Shijiazhuang and Lanzhou.
The airline has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (601021) since January 2015, holds 30% of Spring Japan and codeshares with Eastar Jet; Zhang Xiuzhi is chief executive. It keeps costs down by selling mostly through its own website and app, dropping free meals and water, and flying a single family of aircraft. Its network covers about 100 destinations across mainland China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.
Thailand is one of its biggest overseas markets. From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Spring flies to Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou, Chengdu Tianfu, Xi'an, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Nanning, Lanzhou, Shijiazhuang, Jieyang and Yangzhou. From Bangkok Don Mueang it serves Xi'an and Xiamen. Phuket has flights to Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou and Chengdu Tianfu, and Chiang Mai has a route to Xi'an. In March 2026 the airline raised Shanghai Pudong to Suvarnabhumi to as many as four flights a day. Compare all airlines on Bangkok to Shanghai, Shanghai to Bangkok, Bangkok to Guangzhou, Guangzhou to Bangkok, Phuket to Shanghai, Shanghai to Phuket, Phuket to Guangzhou and Guangzhou to Phuket.
Spring has no Bangladesh route. Guangzhou is served from Dhaka by China Southern, US-Bangla and Biman (see Dhaka to Guangzhou flights), and Spring continues from there to Bangkok and Phuket. For Thailand alone, the direct Dhaka to Bangkok flights are quicker.
Spring's low fares caused friction early: a 1-yuan promotion in December 2006 brought it into trouble with government officials. In July 2009 the Civil Aviation Administration of China approved overseas routes, making Spring the first Chinese budget airline to fly abroad. Its first international route, Shanghai to Ibaraki in Japan, opened on 29 July 2010, Hong Kong followed on 28 September 2010 and daily Macau flights on 8 April 2011. On 29 December 2025 it agreed to buy 30 more A320neos for delivery between 2028 and 2032.
Checked against trusted sources:
Spring Airlines official website
Spring Airlines (IATA: 9C, ICAO: CQH) is a Chinese low-cost airline founded in 2004 and based in Shanghai. It flies an all-economy Airbus A320-family fleet to about 100 destinations, including Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
| Headquarters | Changning, Shanghai, China |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Airbus A320-200 (75), A320neo (48), A321neo (12), as of May 2026 |
| Official website | ch.com |
Flight routes
Shanghai (PVG) departures4 destinations
Shanghai (PVG) departures11 destinations
Shanghai (PVG) departures1 destination
Shanghai (PVG) departures1 destination
A single-family Airbus narrow-body fleet, with 30 more A320neos ordered for 2028 to 2032.
One cabin.
Low fares, paid extras
Your allowance depends on your fare and the baggage you buy. The exact amount is printed on your booking.
Cabin baggage is limited to 7 kg. Checked baggage is bought by weight on most fares and costs far more at the gate than online.
The four steps below take you from your Spring Airlines booking to the gate, whether you depart from PVG or another airport on its network.
Use ch.com or app to check in for eligible flights. Have your Spring Airlines booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.
Booking ref + surnameInternational Spring Airlines passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires.
Passport · visa · IDSpring Airlines closes its check-in counters before departure, and passengers who miss the cut-off can be refused boarding. Leave room for bag drop and security at PVG.
Well before departureSpring 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 9C trip.
Spring Airlines counterHabits that keep a Spring Airlines fare as low as it looks.
Spring flies from Guangzhou to Bangkok and Phuket, which makes Guangzhou an easy place to join its network.
GuangzhouSpring’s Xi’an and Xiamen flights use Don Mueang, while most others use Suvarnabhumi. A connection across the city needs at least an hour by road.
BKK or DMKEven water is sold on board, so fill a bottle after security and bring a snack for flights of four hours or more.
No free mealsSpring distributes mainly through its own channels, and its website shows the full baggage options and any app-only offers.
Direct salesSearch Spring Airlines alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Spring Airlines flightsOthers of this kind you opened on this device, so you can get back to them quickly.
9C.
Shanghai, with bases at Hongqiao and Pudong airports.
Yes, from Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou and Chengdu Tianfu.
Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown Spring Airlines.
Everything travellers ask before flying Spring Airlines.
Checked against ch.com and public aviation references, with a review each season.
Booking
Getting there
Spring Airlines uses the IATA code 9C and the ICAO code CQH. Its radio callsign is AIR SPRING.
Spring Airlines is headquartered in Changning, Shanghai, China. Its main hub is Pudong International.
The Spring Airlines fleet section on this page lists 3 aircraft types.
General
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