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Boeing 747SP - Air China
In 1988 the CAAC (Civil Aviation Adinistration of China) divided its operating divisions into six separate airlines and one of them was Air China. The airline, based at Beijing Capital International Airport, became responsible for the country's intercontinental flights.
Air China took over the CAAC's intercontinental fleet, including three Boeing 747-200s and four 747SP aircraft, plus four Boeing 767s. The CAAC Airbus A310s went to China Eastern Airlines.
Today Air China operates quite a number of widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A330 and A340, the 747-400, the 767 and the 777. The Boeing 747SP aircraft served the airline through the nineties. The SPs were withdrawn from service in 1999. The 747SP on the photograph is approaching London Heathrow.
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