In step with the rapid recovery of the Chinese aviation industry over the past six months, Air China has announced that it will be expanding a number of its domestic and international flight routes. On the domestic side, Air China has launched four new routes and internationally the carrier has launched two new routes, one between Beijing International Airport and Tokyo Haneda International Airport, the other one between Hangzhou and Frankfurt. From 20 December, Air China will resume its … [Read more...] about CHINA: Air China expands domestic and int’l routes

Air China Cargo has launched a new route between China and Milan Malpensa Airport. The new service will operate Shanghai, Beijing, Vienna, Milan Malpensa three times a week and is the carrier’s third cargo service between China and Europe, joining services from Beijing to Frankfurt and Copenhagen. Air China provides air freight service to 44 international destinations and to 81 cities across China, with a fleet of six B747-400 freighters, three B747-200Fs and a Tu-204C, along with … [Read more...] about CHINA: Air China Cargo starts Milan service

Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) to operate a new three-times weekly cargo service on the Shanghai Pudong- Anchorage-Chicago route by early next year. The carrier plans to use either B747-400Fs or B777s on this route. … [Read more...] about CHINA: China Southern aims for US cargo service

China posted GDP growth of 8.9 per cent in the third quarter of the year, up from 7.9 per cent growth in the second quarter, Bloomberg reported. The growth rate, the fastest in a year, reflected heavy government stimulus spending and high lending growth. Helped by massive stimulus spending on infrastructure, urban fixed-asset investment rose 33.3 per cent in the third quarter. Industrial production rose 13.9 per cent year-onyear in September, the highest rate of growth in more than 12 months, … [Read more...] about CHINA: China posts 8.9 per cent Q3 GDP growth

China’s three major airlines all returned to profit in the third quarter thanks to stronger passenger demand and lower fuel prices. Air China saw its net profit for the July-September period reach US$125.3 million, compared to a loss of US$288.5 million in the same period of last year. China Eastern Airlines recorded a profit of US$3.4 million, following a US$341.2 million loss a year ago, while China Southern Airlines posted US$41.6 million, having lost US$121.5 million in the third … [Read more...] about CHINA: China’s big three carriers turn Q3 profits

Air China and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways will jointly set up China’s biggest cargo joint venture in Shanghai in early 2010 as the two carriers aim to tap the surging cargo volumes out of Shanghai Pudong. Air China will hold 51 per cent and Cathay Pacific will hold the remainder in the joint venture which will see the two carriers contributing 10 B747-400 freighters. “The venture is expected to be launched ahead of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo but still … [Read more...] about CHINA: New cargo JV for Air China/Cathay