China Northwest Airlines (WH)

China Northwest Airlines (IATA: WH) was a Chinese state-owned carrier based in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, operating primarily in the northwestern regions of China. The airline served domestic routes across China as well as some international destinations, functioning as a regional carrier under the broader Chinese civil aviation framework. The airline was founded in 1987 and operated until 2002, when it was merged into China Eastern Airlines as part of a major consolidation of China's civil aviation sector ordered by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This restructuring reduced the number of major state-owned airlines and aimed to improve efficiency across the industry. During its operational years, China Northwest Airlines flew a mixed fleet of Western and Soviet-era aircraft, reflecting the transitional period in Chinese aviation. Its merger into China Eastern effectively ended its independent existence, and its routes and assets were absorbed into the larger carrier.