2026 China Budget Airlines Showdown: Spring Airlines vs 9 Air vs Ruili Airlines
Bottom line: Spring Airlines offers the lowest base fares, but adding a 30kg checked bag can wipe out all savings. Ruili Airlines is the only Chinese budget carrier with free checked luggage (20kg domestic). Always compare total cost — not just the ticket price.
Some travelers prioritize spacious seats and free meals on the Big Three carriers; others hunt exclusively for the cheapest ticket — even if it means bringing their own food. In 2026, China’s budget airline landscape remains competitive, with Spring Airlines, 9 Air, and Ruili Airlines forming a three-way rivalry. Fares are enticingly low, but the real “savings code” hides in the fine print of add-on fees.
Airline Overview
| Airline | Founded | Fleet | Hub | Domestic routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Airlines (9C) | 2004 | 120+ Airbus A320 | Shanghai | 100+ cities |
| 9 Air (AQ) | 2014 | 20+ Boeing 737 | Guangzhou/Shanghai | 40+ cities |
| Ruili Airlines (DR) | 2014 | Boeing 737 | Kunming | 61 domestic + 8 international |
Spring is the undisputed leader with a fleet 6x the size of 9 Air’s. Ruili is the smallest but holds unique advantages in Yunnan and Southeast Asia routes.
Fare Comparison: Are ¥9 Fares Real or Just Marketing?
Spring’s website perpetually advertises “from ¥9” and “from ¥99.” Real 2025 data: Shanghai-Guangzhou on Spring starts at ¥359, while Air China/China Eastern on the same route starts at about ¥700. Seems like half the price — but baggage add-on fees are the key.
Take Spring flight 9C8844 (Dalian-Shanghai Pudong): base fare ¥487, adding 30kg checked baggage online costs ¥450, totaling ¥937 — the baggage fee is 92% of the ticket price. China Eastern MU5647 on the same route (¥475 with free checked baggage) might actually cost less overall.
This is the core logic of budget airlines: low base fare, but every service priced separately.
Baggage Rules Detailed Comparison
| Item | Spring Airlines | 9 Air | Ruili Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free carry-on | 1 piece ≤7kg, 20×30×40cm | 1 piece ≤7kg, 20×30×40cm | 1 piece ≤5kg, 20×40×55cm |
| Free checked baggage | Base fare excludes it | Base fare excludes it | Domestic: 20kg free |
| Online checked (short-haul) | ¥42/5kg | ¥42/5kg | - |
| Online checked (3000km+) | ¥74/5kg | ¥74/5kg | - |
| Gate oversize baggage | Extremely expensive, can exceed ticket price | Same as Spring | - |
Ruili Airlines is the outlier among China’s budget carriers — domestic flights include 20kg free checked baggage, more generous than both Spring and 9 Air. International flights still exclude free checked bags.
All three enforce strict carry-on size limits; a standard 20-inch cabin suitcase will almost certainly be flagged for check-in. The widely shared tip that “backpacks pass more easily than wheeled luggage” has some truth — soft bags have more room for compression.
Easy comparison: Use Trip.com fare comparison or Skyscanner to search “total cost” (fare + baggage) across all airlines to avoid being trapped by low base fares.
Operational Efficiency: Who’s Actually Profitable?
In H1 2025, Spring Airlines posted revenue of ¥10.304 billion with net profit of ¥1.169 billion — the only profitable listed airline on the A-share market. During the same period, Air China lost ¥1.806 billion, China Eastern lost ¥1.431 billion, and China Southern lost ¥1.533 billion — the Big Three were still stuck in the mud.
Spring’s profit secret: unit cost of just ¥0.303/ASK, about 30% below the Big Three; daily utilization of 11 hours (industry average 9 hours); Q1 2025 load factor of 90.6%, reaching 93.87% in August — industry best; direct e-commerce sales ratio of 99.7%, virtually zero agent distribution.
On-time performance? Spring also shines — ranked top 3 for April 2025 arrival punctuality per VariFlight data, and even took the national number one spot in September 2022.
Real Costs: How Much Does a One-Way Actually Cost?
Using Shanghai-Guangzhou (about 1,200 km) as an example:
| Option | Fare | 10kg online check-in fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring base fare | ¥359 | ¥84 | ¥443 |
| China Eastern with baggage | ¥700+ | ¥0 | ¥700+ |
With ≤10kg baggage, Spring saves about ¥257; over 20kg, the actual gap shrinks dramatically. Bring a large suitcase on Spring and after adding baggage fees, it might cost more than a full-service carrier.
Refund & Change Costs: The Price of Commitment
Spring refund rules:
- Refund 2-24 hours before departure: 80% of fare deducted
- Refund within 2 hours of departure: Potentially nearly 100% deducted
- Changes? Similarly expensive
A ¥199 ticket that needs canceling might return less than ¥40. Travelers with uncertain plans are strongly advised to buy refundable fares or purchase trip cancellation insurance.
FAQ
Q1: Are budget airlines really much cheaper than full-service carriers? Not necessarily. Base tickets may be 30%-50% cheaper, but with 30kg of checked baggage, Spring’s Dalian-Shanghai total (fare + baggage) can exceed China Eastern’s baggage-included fare. The key factors are baggage amount and schedule certainty.
Q2: Without free checked baggage, how much can I bring on the plane? All three allow 1 carry-on, weight limit 7kg (Ruili 5kg), with extremely strict size requirements. A 20-inch cabin suitcase will almost certainly be stopped at Spring/9 Air. Buy baggage allowance online in advance — about half the price of airport counter purchases.
Q3: Are budget airlines always late? Quite the opposite. Spring’s on-time rate has consistently ranked among the industry’s best — top 3 for April 2025 arrivals, and national number one in September 2022. High-intensity operations (planes fly 11 hours/day) and redeye flights using off-peak slots actually produce stable punctuality.
Q4: How much refund can I get on a budget ticket? Spring deducts 80% of the fare for refunds 2-24 hours before departure; close to departure, possibly 90%+. Strongly recommend buying refundable fares or trip insurance if plans are uncertain.
Q5: What’s the relationship between 9 Air and Spring? No affiliation — they’re independently operated. 9 Air belongs to Juneyao Airlines Group (IATA code AQ), headquartered in Guangzhou using Boeing 737s; Spring (IATA code 9C) is headquartered in Shanghai using Airbus A320s. Different route networks and hub bases.
Summary
The core value of domestic budget airlines is putting the choice back in your hands: don’t need meals? Save money. Don’t need checked bags? Save money. But add even one extra need, and the math may not work out as well.
Before traveling, ask yourself three questions: How much luggage? Might plans change? Can I handle redeye flights? Once the answers are clear, the best airline for you naturally emerges.
Want to turn travel into a career? Join TravelArbitrage Partners — direct connections to 200+ airlines, 50+ cruise lines, with channel pricing 5-15% below official rates. Zero franchise fee, start immediately.