(Yicai Global) Aug. 10 -- Several of China's biggest airlines have provided flights to help evacuate tourists affected by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Jiuzhaigou scenic area in the country's southwestern Sichuan province.

Air China Ltd. [SHA:601111] put on a flight to get 119 passengers out of the affected area at 9.47pm on Aug. 8, just 28 minutes after the earthquake hit.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China provided the first disaster relief flight through Sichuan Airlines at 5.26 a.m. on Aug. 9, carrying relief personnel and supplies from the provincial capital Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. The flight also picked up stranded passengers before returning to Chengdu.

Jiuzhaigao airport is mainly being used for disaster relief flights at present, with all flights out currently subject to approval from the Sichuan provincial emergency relief office, Sichuan Airlines told Yicai Global.

Xiang Peng Airlines, owned by HNA Holding Group Co. [HKG:0521], sent a plane to pick up those stranded at 1 p.m. on Aug. 9, while another HNA Group airline, West Air, sent a flight to the disaster area at 2.40 p.m. the same day.

China Eastern Airlines Corp. [SHA:600115] also sent a flight to take 120 stranded passengers out of the area, and China Southern Airlines put a flight on standby.