W ang Zhenghua is the founder of Spring Airlines, China's first and largest low-cost carrier. A former civil servant and district government official in Shanghai, he established the airline in 2004 (commencing operations in 2005) with a vision to make air travel accessible to the average Chinese citizen. Famous for his extreme frugality, Wang implemented cost-cutting measures such as removing first-class seats and minimizing in-flight services, which allowed Spring Airlines to offer fares significantly lower than state-owned competitors. He built the company from a small travel agency, Shanghai Spring Tour, which he founded in 1981.

Today, Spring Airlines operates a fleet of over 120 aircraft and flies to hundreds of destinations across Asia. Wang has stepped down from the chairmanship, passing the baton to his eldest son, Wang Yu, but remains a influential figure as a director and controlling shareholder. His younger son, Wang Wei, also holds a senior executive role within the group. Wang Zhenghua's pioneering business model challenged the status quo of China's aviation industry and opened up the market to private competition.