Air China is the national flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, headquartered in Beijing. Founded in 1988 following the restructuring of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), it operates an extensive network of domestic and international routes spanning Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, and Oceania. As a member of Star Alliance since 2007, Air China offers passengers connectivity to hundreds of destinations worldwide through partner airlines. The carrier is majority state-owned, with China National Aviation Holding Corporation as its primary shareholder. Air China is consistently recognized among the major carriers in Asia and has received multiple Skytrax quality ratings over the years. It plays a central role in China's aviation sector alongside sister carriers Shenzhen Airlines and Air Macau.