Civil Aviation Administration of China
Civil Aviation Administration of China
中国民用航空局
- Founded
- 1949
- Jurisdiction
- #country:china
- Region
- #region:asia
- Headquarters
- China, Beijing, Dongcheng
- Website
- https://caac.gov.cn
- Tags
- #authority:caac
Carrier Authorization Framework
General Authority
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is the sole regulatory authority governing civil air transport into, out of, and within China. All carriers, foreign and domestic, must be registered with CAAC to operate lawfully. CAAC reserves unlimited authority to grant, revoke, or modify any route, claim, slot, gate priority, operating approval, or base at its sole discretion, regardless of category.
Carrier Categories
Categories are listed in ascending order of restriction. A nation or carrier's absence is assumed "prohibited" category.
| Category | Applicability | Approval Required | Provisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | Mainland Chinese carriers | No | Full domestic operating rights |
| National (Augmented) | Carriers of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan | No | Independent civil aviation authority under CAAC supremacy; subject to applicable regulations and curfews |
| Liberalized | Carriers of qualifying nearby Asian states | No | No frequency or designation limits; may operate to any airport of entry with CIQ facilities |
| Controlled | Carriers of states with a negotiated bilateral agreement | Yes, per route | Standing Air Services Agreement; frequency capped, subject to periodic renegotiation |
Designated Gateways
Designated gateways of entry: PEK/PKX, PVG, CAN, URC.
Regional Liberalization Commitments
CAAC honors Protocol 3 of the Air Transport Agreement between ASEAN and China, which extend unlimited fifth freedom rights between secondary points in ASEAN and China — 18 and 36 points respectively under Protocol 3. (PEK/PKX, PVG, and CAN remain outside the named points; URC, XIY, and KHG fall within scope. CAAC remains open to negotiating further expansion of named points, frequencies, and beyond-rights under this framework.)
Registered Carriers
National
| Carrier | Notes |
|---|---|
| China Northern Airlines | |
| China Southeast Airlines | |
| China Pearl Airlines | |
| Yizhou Airlines | |
| Danfeng International Airlines | |
| Tashi Airlines |
National (Augmented)
| Carrier | Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Macau Air | Macau | |
| Metro Airways | Hong Kong | |
| Sky Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
Liberalized
| Carrier | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AkiJet | Japan | |
| Malay Airways | Malaysia | |
| T eGreen | Thailand | HRB |
| SMOAT | Singapore | HRB |
Controlled
| Carrier | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National Airlines | United States | |
| Columbia Airlines | United States |