Mr. Zhao Dong
Chairman of Xiamen Airlines, China (The company partnered with the UN to promote SDGs including SDG 13 on climate actions)
Mr. Zhao Dong is the Chairman of Xiamen Airlines and the Chairman of Hebei Airlines. Mr. Zhao Dong is a senior management leader with 33 years of experience in civil aviation. He graduated from the Civil Aviation University of China with a major in air traffic control and from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University with an MBA degree. He also completed the Executive Development Programs (EDP) of School of Management in Xiamen University.
1986-1989, he worked on aeronautical information in the Flight Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). 1989-2000, he worked in the General Flight Operation Department of Xiamen Airlines and served as Director of the Information Office and Manager of Flight Operation Center. He joined in the establishment of Xiamen Airlines Flight Operation Center, and established a dispatching-centered system for guaranteeing organizational operations. In terms of for ground-cabin services, Mr. Zhao stressed the importance of ground handling and efficiency, laying a solid foundation for flight safety.
2000-2006, he assisted Wu Rongnan, the first General Manager of Xiamen Airlines in ensuring security, operations, management, services and external relations.
2006-2016, he served as the Deputy General Manager of Xiamen Airlines to manage marketing, network planning, revenue management, international business, air cargo, cabin-ground services, and brand promotion to vigorously advance the "integration of marketing services." During this period, Xiamen Airlines delivered an impressive business performance, with its Operating Profit Ratio ranking among the top 10 airlines in the world. It successfully joined the SkyTeam Airline Alliance and had been rated as the “Chinese Airline with the Best Service” in mainland China for four consecutive years. Mr. Zhao led and participated in the application for the highest honor in China's quality field, i.e. "China Award for Quality".
December 2016-2019, he served as the General Manager of Xiamen Airlines. Under his leadership, Xiamen Airlines continues to maintain a sound momentum of growth. It currently owns over 200 airplanes, 2 subsidiaries of Hebei Airlines and Jiangxi Airlines, and branches and offices in 45 cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania, with nearly 500 routes in operation globally. It is the only airline company in China with profitability for 32 consecutive years, which is also a rarity in the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping commended Xiamen Airlines as the “epitome of the development of China's aviation industry for its good performance”.
In February 2017, Mr. Zhao promoted the signing of an SDGs agreement between Xiamen Airlines and the United Nations. Hence Xiamen Airlines becomes the first airline in the world to work with the United Nations on SDGs.
February 2019-present, he serves as the Chairman of Xiamen Airlines.