Company Watch - Air China.

Sep 17, 2007

Air China charted an ambitious international expansion plan that includes opening 12 new routes to the US and Europe in 2008 and 2009, China Eastern Airlines is taking a more cautious approach, with only one new international route planned in the next two years. According to the 2008-09 long-haul routes distribution program released by CAAC, CEA will start Shanghai-Los Angeles service next year but will stay away from further international expansion. Sep 14, 2007

Air China reported its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2007. During the period, the airline produced operating revenue (including air traffic revenue and other operating revenue) of $3.4 million (RMB23,353 million), a 17.2 percent increase over the same period last year. Net profit was 6.7 percent or $200 million (RMB 1,569 million), as Air China continued to outperform its domestic peers. Earnings per share nearly tripled, rising 169 percent from RMB0.049 in the first half of 2006 to RMB0.132. Sep 11, 2007

Air China proceeded with its announced plan to join the worldwide Star Alliance, now meeting 21 of the 57 entry requirements, and launched new code sharing with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways. The company also strengthened its cooperation with such airlines as Lufthansa, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, and Korea's Asiana Airlines. Sep 11, 2007

All Nippon Airways, Shanghai Airlines and Air China will codeshare on flights between Tokyo Haneda and Shanghai Hongqiao beginning Sept. 29. The flights, operated by ANA and Shanghai, will be introduced from the mostly domestic airports to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the countries, ANA said. Japan Airlines also will operate the route, flying daily from Sept. 29 aboard a 767, switching to a 747-400 on Oct. 28. China Eastern Airlines will codeshare on those flights and also operate its own daily service. Sep 11, 2007

China Southern Airlines continued to reinforce its "double hub" (Beijing and Guangzhou) strategy by planning to launch flights to Newark, Detroit and London from Beijing and to Moscow and Vancouver from Guangzhou in 2008 and 2009. Sep 14, 2007

China Southern Airlines, in cooperation with partner KLM, and upon request by the Dutch travel agent ATP, will transport Dutch participants and visitors to and from the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. Sep 12, 2007

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