Chinese Airlines Are Expanding International Routes

Air China (CA), China Southern (CZ), and China Eastern (MU) are planning to expand their international offering in six months. Aiming for over 140 routes.

Chinese travel is still sitting behind its pre-pandemic capacity, however, with upcoming growth ambitions, this is going to be significant growth for the big three. Zheng Hongfeng, CEO of industry information provider VariFlight, commented to the Global Times:

“The civil aviation regulator is working hard to restore international routes, and it is an important way for China to connect with the world”

With Chinese airlines looking to resume their footprint in the Asia-Pacific, it could come as some relief for passengers, with more capacity re-entering the market providing relief for those pricey airfares.

Let’s take a look at the airlines individually and their growth plans:

Photo: Airbus

Air China

Air China has announced that they would schedule 132 flights per week to 52 destinations. The airline plans to introduce new routes such as:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Johannesburg (JNB)
• Chongqing (CKG) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN)
• Chongqing (CKG) to Budapest (BUD)

Air China also plans to reintroduce routes that were halted in the face of COVID-19, including:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Singapore (SIN)
• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Jakarta (CGK)
• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Vancouver (YVR)
• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to Toronto (YYZ)
• Hangzhou (HGH) to Rome (FCO)

China Southern

The largest airline of the big three, Guangzhou-based China Southern, plans to introduce 47 international destinations frequenting 203 cities. Including the below routes:

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to New York (JFK)
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Rome (FCO)
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Jakarta (CGK)

Stepping away from their home base, services from Shanghai will also operate:

• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to New York (JFK)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Paris (CDG)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Toronto (YYZ)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Auckland (AKL)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Sydney (SYD)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Frankfurt (FRA)

China Eastern

Sky Team China Eastern, based in Shanghai, will double its current 54 international flights to 108 weekly. A selection of destinations the airline will resume are:

• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Bangkok (BKK)
• Hangzhou (HGH) to Tokyo Narita (NRT)
• Qingdao (TAO) to Dubai International (DXB)
• Qingdao (TAO) to Seoul (ICN)

Massive growth predicted in China

China is tipped to account for 21% of all aircraft deliveries as predicted by Boeing.

By 2041, 42% of aircraft deliveries will be accounted for within the Asia-Pacific region, with China owning 21% of that figure, with Boeing estimating that the Chinese aviation industry will need over 8,000 planes by 2041.

To meet demand, Chinese airlines fleets will increase from around 3,900 to 9,600 aircraft This is at a value of $1.5 trillion.

This might sound like a crazy prediction, but with demand already starting to increase in the region, we can take stock of other countries already maxing out their airline capacity, China will be the same.

Sources: Airways Mag, Global Times