China Eastern Airlines opens Xiamen base

China Eastern Airlines opened a subsidiary Saturday in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, marking the carrier's participation in the high-quality development of Xiamen and Fujian province as a whole, said the Shanghai-based airline.

The establishment of the subcompany will make Xiamen a new nexus for China Eastern after those at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport. Xiamen aims to operate a fleet of 40 aircraft by 2025, and become one of China Eastern's major bases.

China Eastern Airlines Corp and Xiamen Iport Group inked a strategic cooperation framework agreement on June 10 to deepen collaboration in passenger transport, air logistics and aircraft financing.

The setup of the new Xiamen division is in line with the region's strategies in serving the Belt and Road Initiative, the development of the local economy and the construction of a pilot free trade zone in Xiamen, as well as the integrated development of cross-Straits areas.

China Eastern started service in Xiamen in 1990. Last year, it transported up to 3 million passenger trips to 18 destinations to and from Xiamen Airport.

Operating a fleet of more than 750 aircraft, China Eastern is currently the seventh-largest carrier globally. China Eastern makes more than 130 million passenger trips to 1,150 destinations in 175 nations and regions across the world every year.