Air China

Over 80% of the world’s top 100 airlines by ASK will be in attendance at the 29th edition of Routes World

Air China’s first Comac C919 will debut on two routes: Beijing Capital-Shanghai Hongqiao and Beijing Capital-Hangzhou.

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.

Air China has unveiled the seat map for its impending Comac C919 delivery, offering eight business class and 150 economy class seats.

Traffic for the leading three Chinese carriers during Q2 2024 reveal record-high performances, with year-on-year increases and growth against Q2 2019.

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.

A selection of new routes starting in July, including long-haul service to Europe by LATAM Airlines Group, Qantas Airways and Air China.

Air China is adding a fourth route to Milan in July with the launch of flights from Chengdu.

Strength in the domestic market is boosting financial performance for Chinese airlines.

While China’s international travel recovery remains slow to gain momentum, its domestic airline capacity is surging well beyond pre-pandemic levels.

China’s “Big Three” commercial carriers Q1 results reveal a strong period for operational revenues but also net losses for two of the operators.

China Southern has placed an order for 100 Comac C919s, completing the trifecta of state-owned airlines committing to the domestically developed aircraft.

Air China has signed a purchase agreement with Comac for 100 C919ER narrowbody airliners.

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.

Backed by renewed travel sentiments and open borders, HSBC analysts are optimistic that Chinese carriers are on track for a “record profit” in 2024.

Air China says it will be raising funds and some of the proceeds will go toward buying 17 domestically developed Comac C919 and ARJ21 airliners.

Air China is to become the third airline to offer flights between Beijing and Istanbul.

While MRO joint ventures in China are still forming, the environment for such ventures is becoming less favorable.

The news of the capacity boost comes on the heels of China’s “Big Three” carriers all reporting their first quarterly profits since the pandemic started.

China’s decades as aviation’s fastest growth country is over for now, and it will take years for aircraft deliveries to return to previous levels.

New MRO joint ventures feature in this month’s news briefs.