[1][2] The company was started in November 2002 as Jetwin Cargo Airline, with 2005 being the originally anticipated launch date for flight operations, using Boeing 737 aircraft.

Initially, it was owned by Orient Holdings Group (65% ownership) and (Hong Kong company) East Pacific Holdings (35% ownership).

By then, the company's ownership was as follows: Shenzhen Donggang Trade (51%), Donghai United Group (25%) and Yonggang (24%),[1] and it expected to begin service in August 2006, subject to gaining approval from Chinese aviation authorities.

Delivery of its first freighter aircraft, three Boeing 737-300 converted passenger planes, occurred in September 2006.

[6] As of April 2022[update], Donghai Airlines operates an all-Boeing fleet including the following aircraft:[14] The airline previously operated 8 737-300F between September 2006 and August 2016