Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-10-21 07:25Core Viewpoint - The domestic airline ticket prices in September showed a year-on-year increase driven by improved supply and demand dynamics, with expectations for a turning point in Q4 2025 as the supply-demand gap narrows [1] Industry Dynamics - In September, the demand for air travel benefited from increased passenger flow and longer flight distances, resulting in a higher growth rate than supply. The passenger load factor for both domestic and international routes reached record highs [1] - The six listed airlines in A-shares reported a combined ASK/RPK growth of +4.0%/+7.1% year-on-year in September, with domestic passenger load factors reaching 87.3%, an increase of 2.1 percentage points year-on-year, marking the highest level for September in history [1] - For international routes, the supply growth rate slowed, leading to a widening gap with demand growth. The ASK/RPK for international routes increased by +8.7%/+13.6% year-on-year, with a passenger load factor increase of 3.5 percentage points [1] Aircraft Utilization and Pricing - The aircraft utilization rate in September remained high at 7.8 hours, with narrow-body aircraft showing a slight increase of +0.4% year-on-year [2] - The domestic passenger load factor for the six airlines reached 87.3%, up 2.1 percentage points year-on-year, and 3.9 percentage points compared to 2019, achieving a historical high [2] - Domestic economy class ticket prices increased by +0.6% year-on-year, while international ticket prices decreased by -15.2% [2] Fleet Expansion - The fleet of the six listed airlines grew by 0.3% month-on-month, with a total of 3,340 aircraft managed as of September 2025, reflecting a net increase of 11 aircraft [3] - The main aircraft types introduced were narrow-body models, including 19 new narrow-body aircraft in September [3] Investment Targets - Key companies to watch include China Eastern Airlines (600115.SH), Huaxia Airlines (002928.SZ), Air China (601111.SH), China Southern Airlines (600029.SH), Juneyao Airlines (603885.SH), and Spring Airlines (601021.SH) [4]