Xiuzhi Zhang | Chief Executive Officer
Spring Airlines | China

Ms. ZHANG Xiuzhi is the CEO and co-founder of Spring Airlines, one of China’s first private airlines and the country’s sole Low Cost Carrier. Since 2004, Ms. Zhang has been instrumental in helping Spring develop a strong market presence in China’s booming aviation sector catering not only to China’s first time flyer market but also offering a new range of travel products targeting the increasingly more sophisticated and price-conscious business segment. A staunch advocate of the low-cost aviation model, Ms. Zhang has defied the critics and illustrated that not only could the LCC model work in China – it could thrive!
 
Ms. Zhang has been quick to take advantage of the favourable market conditions in China, guiding the company on a path of rapid growth and expanding its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft in order to build a network that now covers all China’s major business and tourist routes. She also sees an important part of her role as developing strong working relationships with regional governments across China, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that not only help stimulate economic growth but provide Spring with access to China’s future economic powerhouses.
 
Taking the airline international is also a critical part of the company’s revolutionary strategy. Ms. Zhang worked to ensure that Spring became the first private carrier to be granted a license to fly internationally by the Civil Aviation Authority of China in 2010. Today the company flies to Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia and destinations across Japan.
 
Prior to her current role, Ms. Zhang served as Vice President of Spring International Travel Service in charge of the company’s charter operations. Within two years of joining the firm in 1992 she helped the company become the dominant player in the domestic travel industry – a position the company retains to this day.