Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-10-31 11:24Core Insights - The three major airlines in China, namely China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China, have reported their first overall profitability for the first three quarters since the pandemic, but industry experts remain cautious about their ability to maintain profitability for the entire year [1][6] Financial Performance - China Southern Airlines reported a third-quarter revenue of 51.374 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.01%, with a net profit of 3.840 billion yuan, up 20.26%. For the first three quarters, total revenue reached 137.665 billion yuan, a 2.23% increase, and net profit was 2.307 billion yuan, up 17.40% [1] - China Eastern Airlines achieved a third-quarter revenue of 39.592 billion yuan, a 3.14% year-on-year increase, with a net profit of 3.534 billion yuan, up 34.37%. The total revenue for the first three quarters was 106.414 billion yuan, a 3.73% increase, and net profit was 2.103 billion yuan, a significant turnaround from a loss of 138 million yuan in the same period last year [1] - Air China reported a third-quarter revenue of 49.069 billion yuan, a 0.90% year-on-year increase, with a net profit of 3.676 billion yuan, down 11.31%. For the first three quarters, total revenue was 129.826 billion yuan, a 1.31% increase, and net profit was 1.870 billion yuan, up 37.31% [1] Strategic Insights - The recovery of China Southern Airlines is attributed to the sustained economic vitality of the Greater Bay Area and the support from its "dual-hub" strategy in Guangzhou and Beijing [2] - China Eastern Airlines faced significant pressure from the stagnation of international markets but demonstrated strong strategic resilience with the highest net profit growth among the three airlines [2] - Air China has built competitive barriers through its advantageous position in Beijing, focusing on international rights and high-value passenger sources, which contributed to its performance recovery [2] Operational Efficiency - All three airlines have a fleet size exceeding 800 aircraft, but their average profit per aircraft remains low, with all three below 2.6 million yuan, indicating room for improvement in unit capacity profitability [3] Market Trends - In September, China Southern Airlines saw a 4.43% year-on-year increase in passenger capacity, while China Eastern Airlines and Air China reported increases of 3.63% and 1.2%, respectively [4][5] - The overall civil aviation market did not experience a sharp decline post-summer travel season, with sustained demand for domestic business travel and cultural activities supporting passenger numbers [5] - The winter tourism season is expected to provide new growth opportunities, particularly in northeastern and Xinjiang routes, while international business travel demand is anticipated to continue recovering [5] Future Outlook - Despite the traditional seasonal downturn in the fourth quarter, industry experts suggest that the three major airlines may still achieve overall profitability for the year, although the profit margins are expected to be limited [6]