Major Chinese carriers boosting international reach

Here comes big opportunity for Chinese travelers to book plane tickets and travel to more international destinations than before. Major airlines operating out of China such as Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are making extensive efforts to expand their international presence. The airlines believe that the increasingly congested domestic market has impacted their revenue earnings even though they have stronger traffic.

Presently, the three state-owned carriers – Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines – together account for about 80 percent of passenger traffic. These carriers have in the past few years expanded their reach in the international markets, which comes at a time when more Chinese citizens are traveling abroad. These airlines are also laying stress on connecting main Chinese hubs like Beijing and Shanghai with key international destinations. The rate of development has however been slow and uneven.

Media reports dwelling on the expansion plans of the leading Chinese carriers said that the pace of international expansion has in the recent months accelerated. The reports said that the international traffic at Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines increased 18-23 percent in September 2013 as compared to the same month in 2012.