China aviation SWOT: Airlines cash starved, China Eastern-Shanghai Air merger likely to stumble

China’s airline industry faces an enormously challenging year. Geared for growth, under-capitalised and unrestructured, the sector has been rocked by external events and economic malaise, while internal rivalries and policy inertia threaten to undermine what on paper appears a potential aviation growth bonanza. We review China’s aviation sector prospects in this SWOT analysis. [2195 words]

CAPA Members Login Username: Password: Remember details

Instantly get access to this article now for USD15.00. or If you've already bought this article, you can view it by typing your Article Key:

This report contains the following subheadings:

• STRENGTHS – World’s brightest growth prospect
• WEAKNESSES – The cost of growth, internal rivalries and favouritism
• OPPORTUNITIES – Leadership and North Asian liberalisation
• THREATS – Protracted economic slump in the west, planes and pigs

This report contains the following charts and tables:

• Chinese Mainland international, domestic and regional (Hong Kong/Macau) airport passenger numbers (mill): 1984 to 2008
• Chinese Mainland airport passenger numbers (mill) and passenger numbers growth (% change year-on-year): 2008
• Chinese Mainland airport cargo volumes (mill tonnes) and cargo volume growth (% change year-on-year): 2008
• Select Chinese carriers’ key financial results: Three months ended 31-Mar-09
• Chinese airline share price index Jan-2009 to Jun-2009
• Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern and Cathay Pacific passenger number growth: Jan-07 to May-09
• China fleet expansion plan: 2009 to 2013