21世纪经济报道·2025-09-02 06:06Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the financial performance of China's major airlines during the first half of 2025, indicating that while state-owned airlines continue to incur losses, they have significantly reduced their losses, whereas private airlines have achieved profitability, showcasing a contrasting trend in the industry [1][4]. Group 1: Financial Performance of Major Airlines - The three major state-owned airlines (Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines) reported a combined loss of 4.77 billion yuan, which is a reduction of 2.008 billion yuan compared to the previous year [1][4]. - China Eastern Airlines had the least loss among the three, with a net loss of 1.431 billion yuan, a reduction of 1.337 billion yuan year-on-year [4]. - In contrast, four private airlines (Spring Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, China United Airlines, and Hainan Airlines) achieved profitability, with Spring Airlines leading with a net profit of 1.169 billion yuan [1]. Group 2: Revenue Growth and Cost Control - All three major airlines experienced revenue growth, with Air China reporting 80.757 billion yuan (up 1.6%), China Eastern Airlines at 66.822 billion yuan (up 4.09%), and China Southern Airlines at 86.291 billion yuan (up 1.77%) [4]. - The international operations of these airlines have been a significant factor in their revenue recovery, with China Eastern Airlines increasing its international passenger capacity by 24.38% and achieving a 28.74% increase in international passenger turnover [6][4]. - Cost control measures have become crucial, with China Eastern Airlines implementing a "cost hard battle" plan, resulting in an 8.08% decrease in fuel costs and a 26.89% reduction in financial expenses [9][10]. Group 3: Market Conditions and Challenges - Despite the improvements, the three major airlines have not yet returned to profitability due to several factors, including the burden of unprofitable routes and the incomplete recovery of the international market [7][11]. - The average ticket price for domestic economy class has decreased by 6.9% year-on-year, indicating ongoing pressure on revenue [11]. - The article suggests that the major airlines face significant challenges in achieving profitability in the near term, as the domestic ticket prices remain under pressure and international routes have not fully recovered to pre-2019 levels [11].