Shenzhen Airport

Chinese airlines' sixth freedom roles could challenge Middle East, Asian, European hubs this decade

Signs are now emerging of the enormous – and largely unanticipated – impact that China’s airline industry will have on the international network as this decade rolls out. It will significantly tilt the world airline system.

China’s airlines have expanded remarkably since 2000, but most of that growth has been in the domestic arena, responding to the country’s rapid economic rise. It is only more recently that the airlines, with Central Government encouragement, have begun to focus more on international routes.

There are obstacles to be overcome. Service quality is typically not at the standards expected of the Asia Pacific region carriers; marketing and distribution remains a problem; yield management systems have been inadequate; and limited networks still make achievement of critical mass a challenge.

Yet Chinese airlines have two great advantages when it comes to operating sixth freedom network roles: they have a massive and growing third and fourth freedom market; and they are geographically strategically placed to service traffic flows from all countries to the south, connecting with North America and Western Europe using the effective north Polar routing. Additionally, they have relatively low cost bases.

The world's top ten routes are in Asia Pacific

The world's busiest air route is...Tokyo Haneda-Sapporo Chitose. Indeed the top ten are all in the Asia Pacific region, which reflects its rise as the world's pre-eminent aviation market. Many of Asia's leading route pairs are in the established markets of Japan and Australia. But it is also interesting that among the airports represented as end points in the top 10 routes, ten of the airports fail to rank in the world's Top 30 airports. Though Sapporo has an enormous seat offer to Haneda, it has far less impact elsewhere.

Jetstar's new North Asia focus leaves room for Qantas Singapore expansion to Europe and India

Jetstar is planning to expand its Singapore-based fleet by 50% over the next six months as the low-cost carrier group looks to North Asia for the next phase of its dramatic expansion. As the largest low-cost airline group in the Asia-Pacific region continues to expand at a rate of about 20% per annum, additional capacity will not be directed west towards South Asia, the Middle East or Europe but primarily to North Asia, where Jetstar sees the most opportunities given North Asia’s very low LCC penetration rate. This strategy could signal growth for the Qantas brand in South Asia and Europe as the group looks at potentially announcing next month the launch of a new Singapore-based full-service carrier.

Shenzhen Airlines to boost Star Alliance’s presence in southern China

Star Alliance will enhance its position in China, particularly in the fast-growing Pearl River Delta region, by adding Shenzhen Airlines as its second Chinese member. Only two Star members currently serve Shenzhen but the city is the fifth largest in China and is strategically located between Hong Kong and Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta.

Tibet Airlines preparing for Jul-2011 launch; CAAC sets limit of three new airline approvals p/a

Tibet Airlines, Tibet’s first airline, on 20-Jun-2011 received its public air carrier's licence from CAAC, after receiving approval from the aviation authority in Mar-2010. Tibet Airlines will be the first and only airline based in Lhasa when it launches operations next month and will benefit from the booming Tibet market.