Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-10-31 14:32Core Insights - The major domestic airlines in China have reported profitability in the first three quarters of 2025, marking a significant recovery from previous years of losses [1][2][3] - Despite the overall recovery, some private airlines like Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines have experienced declines in performance, indicating challenges in the competitive landscape [1][6][7] Group 1: Airline Performance - The three major state-owned airlines (Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines) have all achieved profitability in the first three quarters of 2025, with Air China reporting a net profit of 1.87 billion yuan [2][3] - China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines reported net profits of 2.10 billion yuan and 2.31 billion yuan respectively, showing a consistent recovery trend [2] - The cumulative losses of these three airlines over the past five years exceeded 200 billion yuan, but signs of recovery are evident as they aim for full-year profitability in 2025 [2][3] Group 2: International Market Focus - The international market has become a key growth area for major airlines, with significant increases in passenger turnover on international routes compared to domestic routes [4][5] - For instance, Air China's international passenger turnover increased by 14.9%, while China Eastern Airlines saw a 24.16% increase [4] - China Eastern Airlines is expanding its international routes, including a new route from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, which will set a record for the longest single-route flight [4][5] Group 3: Challenges Faced by Private Airlines - Private airlines like Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines have reported declines in net profits, with Juneyao's profit down by 14.28% and Spring Airlines down by 10.32% [6][7] - Despite increased flight volumes and passenger numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels, these airlines struggle with profitability due to lower ticket prices driven by intense competition [7][8] - The average ticket price has decreased significantly, with a reported drop of 8.5% year-on-year from January to September 2025, impacting revenue generation [7][8]