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Air China Limited announces its 2018 interim results

1st Airbus A350-900, delivered on August 8, 2018 - Best Seller

Air China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, announced its results for the 6 months ended June 30, 2018.

Results Highlights

  • Revenue rose 11.96% year-on-year to RMB64.242 billion
  • Operating expenses increased 12.53% year-on-year to RMB59.574 billion
  • Earnings per share attributable to equity shareholders of the Company increased 4.05% year-on-year to RMB3.476 billion
  • Profit per share slightly decreased 0.04% year-on-year to RMB0.25

In the first half of 2018, China passenger aviation market grew steadily in demand and supply while outbound travel and international traffic demand continued to rise with a rapid growth, and there was a faster growth in capacity supply. The Group has capitalized on market opportunities by prudently optimizing its production organization, stabilizing income level and strengthening cost management to reinforce its competitive advantage in the core business. In spite of unfavorable factors such as higher jet fuel prices and depreciation in exchange rates, the Group has delivered solid results for the Period.

Advance Strategic Arrangement and Continue to Expand Route Network

In the first half of 2018, the Company newly launched (resumed routes included) 28 domestic and international routes, comprising 21 domestic and 7 international routes.

As for the Beijing Hub, the Company launched international routes of BeijingBarcelona, BeijingHoustonPanama, BeijingCopenhagen, BeijingHanoi, etc.; as at the end of the Period, the Company launched around 30 direct routes from Beijing to the countries along the Belt and Road. The capacity of Beijing as one of the key bases increased by 6.8% year-on-year by optimizing the capacity deployment structure of the Beijing Hub and increasing the deployment of wide-body aircraft for key routes departing from Beijing.

The Group delivered through check-in baggage services on routes from 19 European cities to domestic destinations via Beijing. As at the end of June 2018, this service has covered 35 waypoints in Europe, America and Australia; the number of O&D connected in the Beijing Hub increased to 6,050 from 5,918 as at the end of 2017; the onward transit products of the Beijing Hub were promoted and the passengers transfer services were enhanced. The number of onward transit passengers via Beijingincreased by 25.4% year on year.

The Chengdu International Hub launched new international and domestic routes such as ChengduBangkok, Chengdu-Huai’an and Chengdu-Hotan, and the capacity contributed increased by 10.3% year-on-year. Shanghai and Shenzhen international gateways have continuously improved the planning of route network and deployment of wide-body aircraft through interconnection with surrounding areas. In addition, the quadrilateral strategic layout has been continuously optimized and the route network has been further developed as the Company launched new international and domestic routes such as HangzhouNha Trang, DalianShijiazhuang– Yinchuan, and Hangzhou-Xi’an-Karamay.

As at the end of June 2018, the Company’s passenger routes have expanded to 434 in total, across six continents of the world, comprising 308 domestic, 109 international and 17 regional routes. The Company’s network covered 42 countries and regions and 189 cities, including 69 international, 4 regional and 116 domestic cities. Through Star Alliance, the Company’s route network extended to 1,317 destinations in 193 countries.

Top Copyright Photo:ย Air China Airbus A350-941 B-1086 (msn 167) TLS (Marco Finelli). Image: 943021.

Air China aircraft slide show:

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Air China’s first Airbus A350-900, delivered on August 8, 2018

1st Airbus A350-900, delivered on August 8, 2018 - Best Seller

At theย Toulouseย Airbusย Deliveryย Centre,ย theย first Airbus A350-900ย was handed over toย Airย China on August 8, 2018.ย Theย airline has ordered a total of 10.

The date of 8-8-2018 was chosen for the handover date as 8s are considered to be a goodย luckย sign in China.

Atย thisย eventย theย topย managersย ofย Airbus,ย Airย Chinaย andย Rollsย Royceย were in attendance.

Caoย Jianxiong, VP of Airย China, inย hisย speechย remarked on theย greatย steps taken byย theย airlineย inย renewingย theย fleet and forย climbing in theย worldwideย airlineย rankings.

Paulย Freestone, seniorย VP ofย customersย forย Rollsย Royceย said “Rolls Royceย is a partner with 45ย yearsย ofย continuousย relationsย withย Airย China, whichย startedย with the H.S. Tridentsย equippedย withย RRย Speyย enginesย untilย now. The decision ofย Air China to select the RR Trent XWB is an important sign of this partnership”.

George Xu, CEO of Airbus China, reminded “Its soย important for the strong relationship between Air China and Airbus.ย Air China isย the first carrier to have ordered the A350 and first to take delivery.

Several hundredsย of planes made by Airbusย are in the fleet of Air China from the A320 family, A330s, and now the ultra modern A350s”.

1st Airbus A350-900, delivered on August 8, 2018

Duringย thisย month, theย newย jet will beย introducedย betweenย Beijingย andย Shanghai by August 14, 2018 and laterย toย Chengdu.ย 

Airย Chinaย chooseย to outfitย theย newย widebodyย jet in aย tripleย classย layout.ย Theย 312ย seatsย are:ย 32ย inย businessย classย withย 1-2-1ย abreast,ย 24ย inย premiumย economyย inย 2-4-2ย andย 256ย seatsย inย economyย inย 3-3-3.ย Allย theย seatsย areย equippedย withย personalย IFEs.

Thisย year Air China will receiveย atย leastย 4 A350-900s of theย 10 onย order.ย 

1st Airbus A350-900, delivered on August 8, 2018

Five Europeanย destinationsย will see thisย newย twinย jet in 2018 andย 2019:ย Frankfurt,ย London (Heathrow),ย Milan (Malpensa),ย Munichย andย Paris (CDG).

Marco Finelli reporting from France. All photos by Marco Finelli.
Copyright Photos:ย Air China Airbus A350-941 B-1086 (msn 167) TLS (Marco Finelli). Image: 943021.

 

Air China aircraft slide show: