China’s three major commercial carriers' Q3 financials show record-high operational revenues for two of the three operators and net profits for all three.
China’s “big three” posted losses for the first six months of 2024 despite double-digit revenue growth and strong domestic and international passenger traffic.
European airlines are pulling out capacity or even leaving some routes completely while Chinese carriers are expanding their capacity to Europe substantially.
Comac delivered Air China’s and China Southern Airlines’ first C919s in a combined ceremony, marking the airliner's expansion to all three state-owned carriers.
China's international passenger volume is 20 percentage points below 2019, but its entire international air transport capacity is 3.7% above pre-COVID levels.
China Southern has placed an order for 100 Comac C919s, completing the trifecta of state-owned airlines committing to the domestically developed aircraft.
Traffic for the leading Chinese carriers during Q1 2024 reveal record-high performances, with positive year-on-year increases, as well as growth against Q1 2019.
Air China plans to open its first route to Saudi Arabia in May, while China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines are launching new European flights.
With domestic traffic already surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the results are a clear indication of the carriers' glacial recovery of international capacity.
