https://www.scmp.com/rss/33212/feed China Eastern Airlines is based in Shanghai. It is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, along with China Southern Airlines. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Frank Chen Frank Chen From controlling the weight of aircraft to sending more flights to Europe via Russian airspace, Chinese airlines have adopted a range of measures in response to the surge in oil prices resulting from the Middle East conflict that threatens to crimp their razor-thin margins. A number of carriers, including China Eastern Airlines, have been enforcing more precise and complex cost management measures in recent weeks to save fuel, according to industry insiders. They include stricter load and weight... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348919/chinese-airlines-shed-weight-add-flights-over-russia-trim-fuel-costs-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348919/chinese-airlines-shed-weight-add-flights-over-russia-trim-fuel-costs-amid-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:02:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Chinese airlines are mulling the introduction of higher fuel surcharges, as authorities strive to balance the impact of surging oil prices with the need to preserve airline margins and at the same time avoid dampening consumer demand. Although a formal announcement from the national regulator is pending, at least two domestic airlines released notices on Wednesday about plans for sixfold surcharge increases, after another airline rescinded a similar notice on Tuesday. According to notices put... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348653/eyes-chinese-airline-regulator-it-seeks-difficult-balance-fuel-surcharge-rises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348653/eyes-chinese-airline-regulator-it-seeks-difficult-balance-fuel-surcharge-rises?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:00:19 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s airlines are expected to add nearly 2,900 more China-Europe flights to their summer schedules compared with last year, analysts said, as the US-Israel war on Iran hands them an even greater competitive advantage over other global carriers. Unlike many Western airlines, Chinese carriers can fly directly through Russian airspace to Europe rather than taking a lengthy detour, allowing them to offer quicker flights, save on fuel and avoid sending planes over the Middle East. The number of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347994/chinas-airlines-add-2900-flights-europe-russia-access-pays-dividends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347994/chinas-airlines-add-2900-flights-europe-russia-access-pays-dividends?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China Eastern Airlines said on Wednesday it placed a multibillion-dollar order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, marking another success for the French company after it raked in big orders from Chinese airlines in December and amid uncertainties related to a widely speculated potential deal between its rival Boeing and Beijing. While the list price of the deal would be US$15.8 billion, China Eastern said Airbus had granted it “a significant price discount” which was “more favourable than the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347905/airbus-wins-chinese-airlines-101-plane-order-victory-over-boeing-key-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347905/airbus-wins-chinese-airlines-101-plane-order-victory-over-boeing-key-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:43 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Surging jet fuel prices amid the US-Israel war on Iran are pushing global airlines including Chinese carriers to raise fares, with an industry leader warning that prices could rise by up to 9 per cent if the energy crisis continues. China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and at least two private Chinese carriers are among a growing list of global airlines that have raised fares since US-Israeli strikes on Iran started on February 28. Global airfares could rise by 8 to 9 per cent if fuel... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347330/airfares-rise-china-and-beyond-amid-gulf-oil-shock-9-increases-feared?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347330/airfares-rise-china-and-beyond-amid-gulf-oil-shock-9-increases-feared?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Airspace closures across the Middle East have left tens of thousands of travellers stranded and forced airlines to divert routes, threatening to derail the fragile recovery in Asia’s tourism and aviation sectors, as the conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran continues to escalate. Major transit hubs, including Dubai and Doha, remain shut or are operating at reduced capacity for a third straight day, upending Europe–Asia connections that depend heavily on Gulf airspace. Airlines are... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3345150/asias-travel-sector-rattled-iran-attacks-fears-domino-effect-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3345150/asias-travel-sector-rattled-iran-attacks-fears-domino-effect-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:53:17 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan The foreign ministry in Beijing has urged citizens to avoid travelling to Japan ahead of Lunar New Year as the row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November comments about Taiwan rumbles on. A statement issued on Monday said: “With the Lunar New Year approaching, the foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Tokyo urge citizens to avoid travelling to Japan and advise those already there to stay alert to crime and disaster warnings. “In recent weeks, public security in Japan has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341284/china-issues-new-japan-travel-warning-row-over-takaichis-taiwan-comments-rumbles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341284/china-issues-new-japan-travel-warning-row-over-takaichis-taiwan-comments-rumbles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:31:50 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China has appointed its first female pilot to exclusively captain flights on its home-grown C919 jet, with more aspiring women waiting in the wings as the nation expands its talent pool and systemically transitions elite pilots who used to fly Boeing and Airbus jets to operate the narrowbody airliner. Yu Yue, who made a high-stakes switch from her decade-long career flying the US-made Boeing 737 to be a C919 captain this year, has become a source of inspiration for many in the country. According... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s state-owned planemaker intends to supersize its flagship jet through a partnership with a major domestic carrier to meet rising market demand for bigger narrowbody types, according to sources. The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines last week to deepen cooperation, including on a stretched variant of the single-aisle C919 that would be able to seat at least 200 passengers, the Post has learned. The deal positions China Eastern, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen Flight cancellations continue to disrupt travel between China and Japan heading into the holiday season amid deepening tensions between the two neighbours. Flights across 46 routes, including to popular tourism destinations, have been cancelled over the next two weeks, according to Flight Manager, an app developed by Shenzhen-based Huo Li Tian Hui Technology. A total of 38 airports across the two countries will be affected, the app shows. The widespread cancellations overlap with the New Year... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337360/holiday-travellers-hit-amid-china-japan-tension-flights-cancelled-46-routes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337360/holiday-travellers-hit-amid-china-japan-tension-flights-cancelled-46-routes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:41:15 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s airlines are encountering severe turbulence over their growing use of extra charges like seat selection fees, as passengers, state media and a consumer protection watchdog slam the practice as a violation of customers’ rights. The controversy reflects the difficulties Chinese airlines face as they try to strike a delicate balance between profitability and service quality, with an industry insider cautioning that companies may not be able to scrap extra fees completely. Seat selection... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336222/chinas-airlines-hot-seat-over-hidden-extra-fees-watchdog-steps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336222/chinas-airlines-hot-seat-over-hidden-extra-fees-watchdog-steps?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Major Chinese airlines have extended their offer of full refunds for flights to Japan for another three months, as the heated diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo shows no signs of easing. On Friday, Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – the country’s largest state-owned carriers – along with several others, including Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Spring Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, issued statements allowing free ticket refunds or itinerary changes for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335410/major-chinese-airlines-extend-full-refund-offers-japan-bound-flights-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3335410/major-chinese-airlines-extend-full-refund-offers-japan-bound-flights-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:50:29 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Hong Kong authorities told the contractor linked to the city’s deadliest inferno in decades to step up fire safety measures as recently as last week. Prestige Construction & Engineering Co Limited received a fire warning about renovation work at Wang Fuk Court on November 20, the city’s Labour Department told the Post. Three prosecutions for safety violations at the site were also initiated between July 2024 and earlier this month, it said. The site was inspected 16 times. The city’s Independent... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334524/hong-kong-fire-trump-calls-japan-china-row-macron-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334524/hong-kong-fire-trump-calls-japan-china-row-macron-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:14:16 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Beijing has rejected claims that Chinese authorities detained and harassed an Indian national born in a disputed border region, after the traveller alleged that she was held for more than 18 hours while transiting through Shanghai. On Sunday, a woman who identified herself as Pem Wang Thongdok said on social media that she had been “held” against her will at a Shanghai airport on Friday. She said she had been travelling from London to Japan via Shanghai. According to the post, Chinese border... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334121/china-denies-harassing-indian-woman-born-disputed-border-region-over-invalid-passport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334121/china-denies-harassing-indian-woman-born-disputed-border-region-over-invalid-passport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:25:32 +0000 Ralph Jennings,He Huifeng Ralph Jennings,He Huifeng As a political dispute between Beijing and Tokyo continues to inflame relations, Chinese media reports indicate some domestic airlines have cancelled flights on 12 of their routes to Japan – including paths to popular tourism destinations Kyoto and Osaka – with analysts predicting cancellations to rise within the week. As of Monday morning, flights on these routes had been put on hold, according to a report from financial news outlet Yicai that cited Chinese aviation data platform DAST. Domestic... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333975/chinese-airlines-cancel-flights-12-japan-routes-tensions-continue-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333975/chinese-airlines-cancel-flights-12-japan-routes-tensions-continue-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese airlines have recorded about 491,000 cancellations of tickets to Japan since Saturday – roughly 32 per cent of their total bookings to the typically popular destination – after Beijing advised citizens to avoid travelling there amid a diplomatic spat, according to a veteran aviation analyst. The percentage of flights affected skyrocketed to 82.14 per cent on Sunday and 75.6 per cent on Monday, according to independent analyst Li Hanming, citing his research data covering all mainland... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3333106/491000-japan-bound-air-tickets-cancelled-china-warns-people-avoid-travel-amid-spat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3333106/491000-japan-bound-air-tickets-cancelled-china-warns-people-avoid-travel-amid-spat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:32:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have urged residents to exercise caution and prioritise personal safety in Japan, citing a rise in attacks against Chinese citizens in the country. The appeal from the Security Bureau on Saturday was issued a day after Beijing told Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan. “Since mid-2025, there has been an increasing trend of attack incidents against Chinese citizens in Japan,” an updated travel alert by the bureau said. “The government reminds Hong Kong residents who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332934/hong-kong-issues-japan-travel-warning-citing-rise-attacks-chinese-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332934/hong-kong-issues-japan-travel-warning-citing-rise-attacks-chinese-citizens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:20:31 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The manufacturer of China’s home-grown passenger jets is ramping up efforts to secure Western-made engines as its aircraft production slumps and rivals race for scarce components amid a supply crunch afflicting the global aviation industry. By dispatching teams to key overseas suppliers, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is seeking to smooth out communication and secure delivery of more Leap-1C engines, according to two people with knowledge of the trips. And as the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332368/c919-output-falters-chinas-comac-scrambles-western-engines-amid-global-bottleneck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332368/c919-output-falters-chinas-comac-scrambles-western-engines-amid-global-bottleneck?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s biggest airlines have started offering free Wi-fi to passengers on a growing number of domestic flights, as they vie to win back business travellers who now often prefer to shuttle between cities on high-speed trains. China Eastern Airlines on October 11 launched a free “basic” Wi-fi service on all its widebody aircraft operating on domestic routes, said a company representative who spoke anonymously per company rules. The planes cover a total of 37 routes serving major Chinese cities... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329419/chinese-airline-offers-free-wi-fi-lure-back-travellers-high-speed-trains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329419/chinese-airline-offers-free-wi-fi-lure-back-travellers-high-speed-trains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau The United States and Hong Kong face a lose-lose scenario if global travellers are forced to pay higher airfares over the proposed barring of Cathay Pacific Airways from flying over Russian airspace to the east coast of North America, analysts have warned. Wednesday’s warning followed calls by United Airlines for the Trump administration to ban Hong Kong’s flag carrier from flying over Russia for routes between the US and the city in a bid to force Cathay Pacific to align with other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329298/us-hong-kong-lose-lose-scenario-if-cathay-added-planned-russian-airspace-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329298/us-hong-kong-lose-lose-scenario-if-cathay-added-planned-russian-airspace-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li All major Chinese airlines operating flights to the United States have formally opposed or asked for reconsideration of a US government proposal that could bar them from flying over Russian airspace on US routes as early as next month. In a filing to the US Department of Transportation on Tuesday, Air China said it “opposes” the proposal because it would make travel more inconvenient for passengers. “Air China estimates that at least 4,400 passengers holding Air China tickets for travel in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329182/chinese-airlines-formally-oppose-us-plan-stop-them-flying-over-russia-way-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329182/chinese-airlines-formally-oppose-us-plan-stop-them-flying-over-russia-way-america?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:00:15 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Trump administration on Thursday proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on flights to and from the United States, saying the practice puts American carriers at a disadvantage. US airlines have long criticised the decision to allow Chinese carriers to fly over Russia on some flights because it gives them the advantage of decreased flying time and lower fuel consumption. Russia has barred US airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace in retaliation for... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3328443/trump-admin-proposes-barring-chinese-airlines-flying-over-russia-us-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3328443/trump-admin-proposes-barring-chinese-airlines-flying-over-russia-us-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 22:26:42 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings The delivery delays appearing to hit China’s C919 – the home-grown narrowbody jet intended to compete with leading Western models – may lead some domestic carriers to consider more orders with US aerospace giant Boeing, industry insiders said. With financial reports from major airlines suggesting C919 units have not been arriving as scheduled, manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) may lose a share of its home market to its American rival, they said, despite the safety... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Deliveries of China’s first narrowbody passenger jet to the top three domestic airlines could be falling behind schedule, according to company financial reports, raising market speculation regarding potential disruptions to the model’s engine supply. Air China and China Eastern Airlines received one C919 aircraft each in the first half of the year despite their stated goals of adding 10 apiece in 2025, according to the reports. China Southern Airlines’ reports said the carrier expects 12 of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:00:20 +0000 Frank Chen,Igor Patrick Frank Chen,Igor Patrick China is poised to launch a new air route between Shanghai and Argentina that will traverse 20,000km (12,000 miles) and span 25 hours, as the country’s trade and political ties with far-flung Latin America call for faster, more direct flights that skip stopovers in the United States or Europe. China Eastern Airlines has announced that an inaugural flight from Shanghai to Buenos Aires will take off on December 4, to cut travel time between China’s largest city and the Argentine capital by as much... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3325784/china-eastern-open-record-long-shanghai-buenos-aires-route-amid-latin-america-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3325784/china-eastern-open-record-long-shanghai-buenos-aires-route-amid-latin-america-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:56:04 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji India and China’s planned resumption of direct flights after five years is expected to revive tourism and business travel between the two regional powers and potentially boost neighbouring economies, raising hopes of a thaw in relations after years of economic and security friction. Flights between the two countries were halted during the pandemic in 2020 and, except for a few repatriation flights, never resumed even after New Delhi and Beijing lifted Covid-19 travel restrictions. Bilateral... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323400/direct-india-china-flights-take-again-opening-door-travel-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323400/direct-india-china-flights-take-again-opening-door-travel-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is expected to sustain production of its home-grown aircraft and expand access to foreign skies, following the United States’ removal of a ban on selling American jet engine parts and technology to Chinese buyers. But analysts cautioned that earlier export restrictions imposed by the Trump administration had a chilling effect – one that could harden Beijing’s resolve to accelerate the development of indigenous engines and other critical components. Sales resumed last week after a bilateral... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317198/china-us-jet-engine-deal-boost-c919-production-comacs-eu-market-ambitions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317198/china-us-jet-engine-deal-boost-c919-production-comacs-eu-market-ambitions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Edith Mao Edith Mao Japan Airlines flight JL8696 from Shanghai to Tokyo was forced to make an emergency landing at Kansai Airport on Monday evening after what passengers described as a sudden descent in the aircraft. The aircraft was on a code-share service operated by budget carrier Spring Airlines Japan as IJ004 from Pudong to Narita when it diverted to the airport in Osaka for an emergency landing at around 8.50pm local time. None of the 191 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 737-800 was injured. According... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3316523/chinese-passengers-describe-aircrafts-violent-plunge-emergency-landing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3316523/chinese-passengers-describe-aircrafts-violent-plunge-emergency-landing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:33:14 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China must allow for more public and media oversight of the government and the Communist Party to ensure accountability and to uncover abuses of power, according to President Xi Jinping. Addressing a group study session of the 24-member Politburo on Monday, Xi said the country needed a “clear, transparent and traceable” process to oversee the national anti-corruption drive, according to state news agency Xinhua. “To fight corruption, [we must] regulate the exercise of power,” Xi said on the eve... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316478/chinese-president-xi-jinping-calls-regulate-exercise-power-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316478/chinese-president-xi-jinping-calls-regulate-exercise-power-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:32:56 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen More passengers shuttling between China’s two biggest cities are choosing to hop on a bullet train rather than a flight, as airlines struggle to match the convenience offered by the country’s ultra-modern high-speed rail network. The shift to rail has become so pronounced on the busy Beijing-Shanghai route that China’s air travel industry has warned its market is being “eroded”, with airlines scrambling to lure back customers with cheaper tickets and free limousine services. Passengers made more... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311483/chinas-airlines-raise-alarm-travellers-ditch-planes-bullet-trains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311483/chinas-airlines-raise-alarm-travellers-ditch-planes-bullet-trains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 May 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The C919, China’s indigenous narrowbody airliner that epitomises Beijing’s sky-high tech aspirations, will enter its third year of commercial operations next week – a feat marked by ratcheted-up services and an expanding network. And in the lead-up to the anniversary, China’s southern economic and tech powerhouse of Shenzhen, along with the popular tourist city of Xiamen in southeastern Fujian province, have become the latest additions to the C919’s network since last week, bringing the total... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311040/chinas-c919-network-spans-16-cities-2-year-mark-reflects-reliability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311040/chinas-c919-network-spans-16-cities-2-year-mark-reflects-reliability?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 01:00:08 +0000 The cause of China’s worst plane crash in 30 years remains unknown, with Chinese authorities opting to not file a progress report on the third anniversary of the disaster. China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735 was flying from the southwestern city of Kunming to the southern city of Guangzhou on March 21, 2022 when it plunged into the side of a mountain near Wuzhou in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, killing all 123 passengers and nine crew. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3303450/3-years-no-final-report-and-no-answers-china-eastern-plane-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3303450/3-years-no-final-report-and-no-answers-china-eastern-plane-disaster?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Mar 2025 07:00:13 +0000 China’s leading aircraft manufacturer plans a further 50 per cent boost to production capacity for the C919 – the country’s first home-grown narrowbody jet – this year as it ramps up the challenge to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly in the domestic market, according to information shared with suppliers at a conference in Xian this week. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said it will increase production capacity to 75 planes – up from the 50 it announced in January – according to a WeChat... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3303361/comac-ramps-challenge-boeing-and-airbus-plans-boost-c919-production-capacity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3303361/comac-ramps-challenge-boeing-and-airbus-plans-boost-c919-production-capacity?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:30:07 +0000 After years of fits, starts and setbacks, an aircraft that is made in China has begun to spread its wings in earnest. On New Year’s Day, China Eastern Airlines launched the first commercial C919 route outside the mainland with a flight linking Shanghai and Hong Kong. Amid the fanfare, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan hailed Wednesday’s return flight as “historic”. It is a welcome development for China’s aviation industry, which struggled for decades to produce a home-grown... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3293074/chinas-c919-aims-spread-wings-further-after-historic-hong-kong-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3293074/chinas-c919-aims-spread-wings-further-after-historic-hong-kong-service?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au China Eastern Airlines will establish its first commercial C919 route outside the mainland, flying between Shanghai and Hong Kong from January 1, according to state-owned broadcaster CCTV. Hong Kong’s transport minister on Thursday also welcomed the coming route launch while hailing China’s home-grown aircraft as “a significant breakthrough in the country’s civil aviation technology”. The new service will operate as a daily return flight and is part of efforts by China to expand the use of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3292358/chinas-c919-fly-first-cross-border-route-connecting-hong-kong-and-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3292358/chinas-c919-fly-first-cross-border-route-connecting-hong-kong-and-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:56:54 +0000 China’s first home-grown passenger jet, the C919, is now serving 10 major cities across the country as domestic airlines move swiftly to deploy the new aircraft. The aircraft, seen as a symbol of China’s achievements in tech and advanced manufacturing, also hit a new milestone on Thursday, carrying a total of 1 million passengers since its maiden commercial flight in May 2023. The rapid roll-out will be a key test for the C919 as it strives to prove itself a reliable alternative to Boeing and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291727/chinas-c919-jet-faces-crunch-test-its-network-rapidly-expands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3291727/chinas-c919-jet-faces-crunch-test-its-network-rapidly-expands?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Dec 2024 14:00:09 +0000 Russia plans to add additional direct flights from St Petersburg to Beijing and Shanghai by next year, according to an airport executive and aviation analysts, while the route between its second-largest city and the island province of Hainan will also be resumed, amid growing demand for flights to China for business and tourism. Asiyat Khalvashi, director of aviation commerce at the Northern Capital Gateway consortium that runs St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, told Russian newspaper Vedomosti... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3289333/china-russia-flights-take-beijing-shanghai-and-hainan-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3289333/china-russia-flights-take-beijing-shanghai-and-hainan-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:30:07 +0000 Airlines from China and Canada began adding back regular direct flights this week, connecting Toronto and Vancouver with four Chinese cities following a deal between aviation regulators that is expected to ease demand. At least five airlines would increase their frequencies within the next two months, the Chinese aviation regulator has said via state-backed media outlets since October 30, connecting two of Canada’s major cities with Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Hainan Airlines led... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3286394/china-canada-direct-flights-surge-meet-demand-talks-yield-results?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3286394/china-canada-direct-flights-surge-meet-demand-talks-yield-results?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:30:09 +0000 International flights to and from China are expected to grow by nearly 31 per cent year on year between late October and March, with Asian destinations and Chinese carriers leading the way, industry data shows. One Canadian airline also expanded so abruptly that it caught the attention of the foreign ministry in Beijing. One-way flights to and from China are anticipated to soar by nearly 40,000 to 168,871 from late October to March compared to a year earlier, according to data compiled by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3284803/chinas-international-flights-reach-new-heights-led-domestic-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3284803/chinas-international-flights-reach-new-heights-led-domestic-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Nov 2024 23:00:11 +0000 After more than 3,700 flights, half a million passengers, impeccable punctuality and higher-than-average passenger load over the last 15 months, China Eastern Airlines this week has handed in a glowing report card for China’s home-grown C919 passenger jet. And having demonstrated its reliability, the rival to the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 families of aircraft has also shown profitability potential, analysts said, although the C919 is set to face hurdles as it seeks presence in overseas... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3277267/chinas-c919-turns-stellar-report-card-profitability-remains-elusive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3277267/chinas-c919-turns-stellar-report-card-profitability-remains-elusive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 04:18:39 +0000 China’s home-grown C919 passenger jet is set to mark a production milestone, with its manufacturer on the verge of delivering the narrowbody aircraft to three major carriers for the first time in the same month in August. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is poised to make a first delivery of the Chinese alternative to the bestselling narrowbody jets by Airbus and Boeing to Air China and China Southern Airlines on Wednesday, on top of having continued to fill orders from China... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3276063/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-spreads-its-wings-delivery-milestone-3-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3276063/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-spreads-its-wings-delivery-milestone-3-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:24:36 +0000 After an on-the-ground check of China’s home-grown C919 passenger jet by European Union regulators last month in Shanghai, the country’s civil aviation authorities have become more optimistic about receiving EU certification for the plane in 2025, according to a source with knowledge of the process. “The delegation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) gave positive feedback,” said the person. One essential task for European technicians during their visit was to operate and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3273736/chinas-c919-edges-closer-eu-landing-regulators-give-positive-feedback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3273736/chinas-c919-edges-closer-eu-landing-regulators-give-positive-feedback?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 23:00:08 +0000 The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has put two types of civilian jets in the air and two bigger ones on the drawing board after 22 years of work. Comac aims to advance China’s goal of technological self-sufficiency and sell its aircraft overseas. The Shanghai-based manufacturer seeks to compete largely with Airbus and Boeing, because their aircraft have similar specs. Here is a dossier on each of the four aircraft types: 1. ARJ21 small aircraft The ARJ21 covers a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3272330/here-are-chinas-4-commercial-jets-arj21-and-c919-jumbo-c929-and-c939?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3272330/here-are-chinas-4-commercial-jets-arj21-and-c919-jumbo-c929-and-c939?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 23:00:17 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao \ https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3264867/comac-c919-marks-year-its-maiden-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3264867/comac-c919-marks-year-its-maiden-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 May 2024 07:49:41 +0000 South China Morning Post economy reporter Frank Chen attended an organised media tour featuring China’s home-grown passenger jet, the C919, earlier this month. He recounts his first impressions and what caught his eye, from the production line to inside the cabin and how pilots and crew are trained. At a sprawling assembly line that produces the narrowbody C919 passenger jet, its maker – the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) – proudly boasts how automated and intelligent the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3264292/inside-chinas-c919-and-why-its-great-short-passengers-reporter-goes-behind-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3264292/inside-chinas-c919-and-why-its-great-short-passengers-reporter-goes-behind-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 May 2024 02:00:15 +0000 The C919 – China’s home-grown, narrowbody passenger jet – is designed to carry between 158 and 192 passengers and compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320. It is built by the Shanghai-based state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac). The C919 completed its first commercial flight at the end of May 2023 after 15 years of development. 1. Maiden commercial flight (May 2023) The C919 completed its first commercial flight between Shanghai and Beijing on May 28, 2023. Bearing the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3264272/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-marks-first-anniversary-commercial-flights-13-key-moments-year-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3264272/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-marks-first-anniversary-commercial-flights-13-key-moments-year-1?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2024 14:00:14 +0000 With big orders for the home-grown C919 flying in, China’s chief maker of civilian aircraft has a lofty plan: make the narrowbody planes faster. Annual production will be expanded – possibly up to 150 in the coming years – to help meet domestic demand for the relatively new passenger jet, giving it a bigger boost in its bid to carve out a piece of the global duopoly long maintained by Airbus and Boeing. But while the plane’s manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), has... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3261897/chinas-c919-aircraft-roll-line-faster-developer-expands-capacity-reliance-engine-imports-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3261897/chinas-c919-aircraft-roll-line-faster-developer-expands-capacity-reliance-engine-imports-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 May 2024 11:00:11 +0000 A resumption of international flights to and from China may be faster than expected, buoyed by the restoration of outbound travel, analysts and local media said, although the recovery of connections with the United States remains slow. Air China would progressively roll out four international routes starting from Sunday, the airline said on its official WeChat account on Tuesday. Routes between Beijing and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Dhaka in Bangladesh would be added, while the Chinese capital... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3260537/chinas-international-flights-set-take-buoyed-may-day-holiday-us-travel-suffering-delays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3260537/chinas-international-flights-set-take-buoyed-may-day-holiday-us-travel-suffering-delays?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:00:45 +0000 The value of Chinese companies listed on US stock exchanges fell significantly last year as Beijing pressured state-owned firms to return home, even as the number of listed Chinese firms increased modestly, a Congressional review has found. Some 256 Chinese companies are now listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and NYSE American exchanges worth a combined US$848 billion, according to a report Tuesday by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. That compares with the 252... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3251878/value-chinese-businesses-listed-us-stock-exchanges-dropped-significantly-2023?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3251878/value-chinese-businesses-listed-us-stock-exchanges-dropped-significantly-2023?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:26:06 +0000 China will invest heavily in the next few years to expand the production capacity of its home-grown C919 passenger jet as its maker tries to grab more market share from dominant players Airbus and Boeing. The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the producer of the narrowbody plane, has plans to greatly boost its production capacity this year, according to comments made by its deputy general manager, Zhang Yujin, to prominent news outlet The Paper on Wednesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3249765/chinas-c919-maker-has-sky-high-ambitions-grab-piece-aviation-pie-boeing-airbus-domestic-demand-soars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3249765/chinas-c919-maker-has-sky-high-ambitions-grab-piece-aviation-pie-boeing-airbus-domestic-demand-soars?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Jan 2024 02:00:21 +0000