Chongqing Airlines
A full-service Chinese carrier based in Chongqing, operating an all-Airbus narrow-body fleet on domestic and selected international routes.
About Chongqing Airlines
Chongqing Airlines was established in 2007 as a joint venture between China Southern Airlines and a Chongqing municipal transport investment company. China Southern holds the controlling 60 percent interest, while the local shareholder holds 40 percent. The airline uses IATA code OQ and operates as a distinct regional brand closely integrated with its larger parent’s commercial and operational network.
The airline’s primary base is Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, a major gateway to western China. Its network is focused mainly on domestic services linking Chongqing with large commercial centres, provincial capitals and leisure destinations, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Sanya, Lhasa and Urumqi. International flying is limited and can vary as schedules and market conditions change.
Chongqing Airlines operates aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, including A319, A320 and A321 variants, with newer-generation aircraft forming part of the fleet. These narrow-body jets are suited to short- and medium-haul routes, including operations from airports affected by high elevation. Aircraft generally offer Business Class and Economy Class, although the precise cabin layout and service depend on the route and aircraft assigned.
The carrier is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld. Its relationship with China Southern gives eligible passengers access to China Southern’s Sky Pearl Club, subject to the programme’s current earning and redemption rules. Connections, ticketing and codeshare arrangements may also draw on China Southern’s wider network, but benefits should be checked against the operating carrier and fare class.
A key strength is the airline’s direct access to Chongqing and other parts of western China, particularly for travellers connecting beyond the largest coastal gateways. Its compact, single-family fleet also supports relatively consistent short-haul operations. The main challenge is that English-language information and international distribution may be less comprehensive than for larger Chinese airlines, while routes and frequencies can change seasonally.
Good to know
Flying with Chongqing Airlines — what to expect
Main Hub
Most services are centred on Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. Allow adequate connection time because the airport is large and terminal or gate changes may require a substantial walk.
Baggage Rules
Allowances depend on the fare, route and operating carrier, particularly on codeshare itineraries. Check the baggage details shown on your ticket before arriving at the airport.
Cabin Options
Most flights use Airbus A320-family aircraft with Business Class and Economy Class seating. Cabin layout and meal service can differ by aircraft and flight duration.
Online Check-in
Online or mobile check-in may not be available for every international itinerary or travel document type. Carry the documents required for an airport check-in if the digital process does not accept your booking.
Loyalty Credit
Eligible flights may earn Sky Pearl Club mileage, but accrual depends on the booking class and ticket conditions. Confirm that your membership number is attached before departure and retain the boarding pass.
Schedule Changes
Some routes and frequencies operate seasonally or change with demand. Reconfirm departure times and the operating carrier shortly before travel.
Route network
Popular routes operated by Chongqing Airlines
Notable destinations on Chongqing Airlines's network.
Destination list is indicative of Chongqing Airlines's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
Reviews of Chongqing Airlines
TripAdvisor · 2018–2023- 50
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What travellers flew
Counted from the 6 reviews below — a tally of the flights reviewed, with each chip carrying the average score those reviewers gave. Nothing here reads their prose or summarises what they said.
✓ marks a group averaging 7/10 or better, − one averaging 4/10 or worse, across at least three reviews.
Poor flight
The overall experience was quite poor. Flight booking and management could only be done with their parent company, China Southern. Their systems were not well integrated. Special meal request, seat selection and online check-in could not be done at all. Check… See more in was a mess at Changi. The queue was very long and took an hour. There was no seatback IFE on the plane. Food and drink selections were poor. The only good thing was the friendly flight attendants.
See lessPosted April 2023 by freddysg, Singapore
Pleasant but not fancy
OK flight, drinks and food supplied, service was good. Leg room reduced but OK for a 2 hour flight. No complaints.
Posted January 2020 by Chris, Ho Chi Minh City
Total mess up with seats
Checked in with plenty of time. They gave us (my wife and me) 2 seats apart for both domestic sector and international sector. We asked for them to be changed so we sat together. They changed the domestic sector but at the gate they changed it back again. They… See more refused to change the international sector. Staff were unhelpful. So we did a swap privately with passengers. Also late leaving and arriving.
See lessPosted July 2019 by phillipmarion2014
Chongqing Airlines postponed my flight by one day with no reason stated
I booked a flight of Chongqing Airlines on Trip.com last week. Flight number is OQ2359 and departure date to Phuket is 31 December 2018. Three days ago, Trip.com alerted me that Chongqing Airlines delayed the flight of arrival in Phuket from 7.55 pm to 8.55… See more pm. Two days ago, the online travel booking web-site informed me that Chongqing Airlines has postponed the flight by one day from 31 December to 1 January 2019 and estimated arrival timing is 9 pm. However, after checking Trip.com, the arrival timing was changed to 10 pm. Although it is a horrible booking experience, I wish to know whether there is such an inflight magazine named Chongqing Airlines Inflight Magazine onboard or whether Chongqing Airlines is using China Southern Airlines Inflight Magazine "Gateway" as its inflight magazine. Can previous passengers of Chongqing Airlines please let me know what is the title of Chongqing Airlines Inflight Magazine? Or should I book Chongqing Airlines flight again in order to clear my doubts? It is impossible to contact Chongqing Airlines by email or by phone in order for the staff to address my enquiries.
See lessPosted December 2018 by Gan Y
What a shamozzle
Where to start? Multiple problems in new terminal (terminal 3). We had a group of around 40 people arrive, with a special 'Group' check-in counter opened just for us. But, each couple / single / family was taking 10 - 15 minutes to process. Turned out that… See more there appeared to be an issue linking our eTickets with China Southern computer system (though Chongqing A/L is a subsiduary). Peoples onward legs to Australia were missing or wrong. The reason that I did not state our flight number was: we ended with seats on flight CZ3891, but were actually booked on CZ3426. Myself (and 5 other couples from the group) did not notice the switch until through the Health / Security / immigration checks, and looked for the Gate numbers, only to notice that the boarding time was almost an hour prior. We had problems finding anyone who spoke English to assist, but a security person finally suggested that we go to the stated departure gate to attempt a resolution. Well, you wouldn't believe it, the flight had been delayed. After checking, our seat bookings were valid, so we ended up okay. In fact this flight swap assisted one of the couples in our group whose home leg flight was not found at all, they were required to retrieve their luggage in Guangzhou, and line up again to check-in for the flight by giving them an extra 20 minutes to do so. On the original domestic flight, they would have been hard-pressed to make the next flight. The flights out of Brisbane at the beginning of the holiday were seamlessly straightforward and timely?!?
See lessPosted July 2018 by Graham R, Ipswich
A good experience
All aspects of this flight, from boarding to disembarkation were efficient. As with most flights in China, the plane was full, but this presented no problem. Staff were very polite and helpful. The aircraft was clean. Cabin service was normal for China.… See more Panzhihua is a mining city in the mountains of Sichuan. The airport and runway are on the top of a mountain. This brings some very windy conditions at times, but I did not experience this on the landing and the take-off on the outward flight. The runway abuts the edge of the mountain cliff, which is quite an experience and sight on take off. The airport does not have air-bridges. Apparently a new airport is planned at a lower altitude in a few years.
See lessPosted April 2018 by Rod129, Adelaide
Traveller reviews originally published on TripAdvisor, shown for reference — service standards may have changed since. Originfacts does not edit or verify individual reviews, and the sample reflects who chose to leave one.
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FAQ
Chongqing Airlines — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- It primarily serves cities across China from Chongqing, including major business centres, provincial capitals and destinations in western China. Selected international routes may operate depending on the season and current schedule.
- The total changes as seasonal services and frequencies are adjusted. Consult the airline’s current timetable or booking system for the latest network count.
- Cabin-baggage limits vary by fare, cabin and itinerary. Check the allowance printed on your booking and confirm current restrictions with the airline, especially when another carrier operates part of the journey.
- Chongqing Airlines is based at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, which is the principal hub for its domestic and limited international network.
- The longest scheduled route can change as international and long domestic services are added or suspended. Check the current timetable and compare the listed flight durations for the latest answer.
- Fares are often lower when booked outside Chinese public holidays, school breaks and peak summer travel periods. Comparing flexible dates and booking earlier for busy routes can improve the chance of finding a lower fare.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts. Originfacts never adds a fee.
- Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is its dominant departure point. The airline also operates departures from cities elsewhere in China as aircraft continue through its scheduled network.