快递“反内卷”政策陆续落地，如何看待航空“反内卷”

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the transportation industry [10] Core Insights - The express delivery "anti-involution" policy has gained traction, with Guangdong Province leading the way in raising express delivery base prices, which is expected to spread nationwide. However, the aviation sector faces challenges in implementing similar price increases due to its high-end and optional nature, especially given the weak summer performance [2][6] - The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has emphasized the need to address "involution" in the aviation industry, particularly focusing on the low-price competition in business routes. The report suggests that the key to "anti-involution" in aviation lies in improving service differentiation and addressing the oversupply in business routes [6][18] Summary by Sections Aviation Sector - The CAAC has made "anti-involution" a priority, with meetings held in June and July 2025 to address the issue. Since 2020, major airlines have reported continuous losses for five years, highlighting the necessity of this initiative [6][18] - Business travel demand remains weak, with expectations for recovery around mid-September. The oversupply in business routes, exacerbated by the shift of international capacity to domestic markets, has led to intense price competition among major airlines [6][18] - Recent improvements in service on key routes, such as Beijing-Shanghai, have shown positive responses in average ticket prices, indicating potential for further expansion of these practices [6][18] Passenger Traffic and Revenue - As of August 9, 2025, domestic passenger traffic showed a slight year-on-year increase of 1%, while international passenger traffic rose by 11%. However, domestic ticket prices faced pressure, with a year-on-year decline of 6.2% [7] - The report notes that the average ticket price for domestic flights has decreased by 8.7% due to fuel surcharges, indicating ongoing revenue challenges despite slight improvements in passenger traffic [7] Shipping and Logistics - The report highlights a rebound in oil shipping rates, with the average VLCC-TCE rate increasing by 52.5% to $35,000 per day, driven by increased cargo from the Middle East [8] - The logistics sector is seeing improvements in coal transport volumes, with daily truck traffic at the Ganqimaodu port rising by 34 vehicles per day, suggesting a recovery in trade demand [8] Market Dynamics - The report emphasizes the need for airlines to shift from a focus on market share to differentiation in service to avoid the pitfalls of low-price competition. The recovery of business travel and the management of flight supply by the CAAC are seen as critical to improving the competitive landscape [66]