Shenzhen Donghai Airlines at HKG

On this somewhat ovecast day, one of Shenzhen Donghai Airlines’ 737-300 freighters is seen here arriving at Hong Kong. B-2517 (msn: 23396) was the first aircraft for the Shenzhen-based carrier, re-delivered after conversion in August of 2006. The aircraft, and the second unit for Donghai (B-2518, msn: 23397) were converted under PEMCO’s 737-300 STC at STAECO’s facility at Yaoqiang Airport in Jinan, Shandong Province.

This particular aircraft has spent its entire working life in China, having been delivered to China Southwest Airlines in December of 1985 and subsequently having served with Air China, China Yunnan, China Eastern, and now Donghai.

Based at Shenzhen’s Bao’an International Airport, Donghai focuses primarily on regional cargo between a variety of domestic destinations (Beijing, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, Wuxi) and a few international routes (Dhaka, Vientiane, Phnom Penh). With a fleet of seven converted 737-300s covering these destinations with an average frequency of 4-5 times per week, demand is heavy and the variety of cargo wide – they’ve transported everything from consumer goods for export to live dolphins for zoos.

Apart from the cargo side, Donghai also runs a business aviation unit, Donghai Jet, with a small fleet of Bombardier Challenger business jets.

This photo comes courtesy of contributor Christian Junker, a founding member of the Association of Hong Kong Aviation Photographers (ahkgap.net). The Association also highlights notable aircraft that visit the airport.

© Photographer: Christian Junker. This photo may not be used without the express permission of Christian Junker. To see more of Christian’s excellent aviation photos, click here.