Core Viewpoint - The report from Zhongtai Securities indicates a downward trend in the total flight schedule volume for domestic airlines in the 2025 winter-spring season, both year-on-year and month-on-month, suggesting a potential for price recovery due to supply constraints and high load factors [1][2]. Group 1: Seasonal Overview - The total flight schedule volume for domestic airlines in the 2025 winter-spring season shows a year-on-year decrease of 2% and a month-on-month decrease of 3%, while still being 15% higher than the 2019 winter-spring season [2]. - International flight schedule volume has limited growth, with a 2% increase compared to the 2024 winter-spring season, reaching 75% of the 2019 levels [2]. - The planned schedule volume for domestic airlines in Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, North America, and Africa has recovered to 79%, 126%, 81%, 171%, 26%, and 267% of the 2019 levels, respectively [2]. Group 2: Domestic Route Dynamics - The overall flight schedule volume is declining, with only five-tier cities showing significant growth, which increased by 4.6% [3]. - The Civil Aviation Administration has limited the release of flight slots in first-tier cities, leading to stable schedule volumes in these areas [3]. - Airlines are likely reducing schedules in less profitable lower-tier cities while increasing flights in five-tier cities, particularly in Xinjiang due to favorable subsidy policies [3][4]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Major airlines are reducing their presence in lower-tier markets, which may enhance their revenue quality; for instance, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines have decreased their schedule volumes in lower-tier cities by 3%, 5%, and 4%, respectively [5]. - The proportion of core city flight schedules for major airlines is significant, with Air China at 82%, China Eastern at 80%, and Spring Airlines at 74% [5]. - Huaxia Airlines is increasing its schedule volume by 5.2%, primarily in second and five-tier cities, benefiting from recovery in capacity and subsidies [6]. Group 4: Strategic Investments - Spring Airlines and Hainan Airlines are focusing on increasing their flight schedules in second to five-tier cities, with Spring Airlines showing growth rates of 6.27% to 31.46% across various city tiers [7]. - Hainan Airlines is also increasing its flight schedules in first, second, and five-tier cities, indicating a dual benefit from demand and subsidy policies [7].