August 28, 2009
China’s major airlines have seen increasing profits on their domestic routes during the first half of the year.
But their international flights performed lower during the same period. Major airlines have started to make preparations for the upcoming rebound in international air travel for the second half.
Data from the civil aviation regulator showed zero growth in the international market in July. It was a change from the negative growth reported in the first half. Major airlines are no longer shifting their capacity to domestic flights. Sources say Air China and Eastern Airlines will receive deliveries of new, larger planes in the second half.
Kong Dong, Air China Chairman said “We won’t give up some important international routes such as China to Europe, the U.S. and Australia. If we did, the difficulties for us to come back to the competitive market would be very hard after it rebounds.”
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