China hit by domestic flight slump in run up to New Year holiday
>> China’s domestic aviation market appears to be entering a renewed slump as the February 12th Lunar New Year approaches, raising the prospect of sharply curtailed travel demand over the holiday period. The seven-day rolling average for daily domestic passenger jet services flown fell almost a third from the peak of over 12,600 flights recorded in early October 2020.
No-fee flight refunds is a big blow for Chinese airlines
>> Chinese airlines may face a big blow as the regulator said tickets sold for the coming Spring Festival period could be refunded without charge, amid the background of low load factors and cheap fares caused by the pandemic. As of February 15, 2020, the total tickets affected by the policy exceeded 20 million with a value of more than 20 billion yuan ($3.09 billion).
China set to expand blacklist of overseas casino tourist destinations
>> China is preparing to expand a “blacklist” of overseas tourist destinations it says are attracting Chinese tourists for gambling activities. Analysts suggested it was likely pointing to emerging Southeast Asian gaming destinations such as the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam, and potentially Australia. Macau could in fact benefit from such a crackdown.
China-backed group loses $10 billion Philippine airport project
>> A Philippine province has canceled its award of a $10 billion airport deal south of the capital, among the biggest projects involving a Chinese firm under President Rodrigo Duterte who has pursued warmer ties with Beijing since taking office in 2016. The Chinese firm was among the Chinese firms blacklisted by the United States in August for their roles in constructing and militarizing artificial South China Sea islands.
Guangzhou airport becomes world's busiest airport in 2020
>> Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport was the world's busiest airport with 43.768 million passengers in 2020, the airport said on Monday, the first time for a Chinese airport to reach this ranking. In November 2020, the airport became China's only domestic airport to exceed 5 million passengers after the outbreak.
China’s main carriers are delaying deliveries from Airbus, Boeing, but not COMAC
>> Three of China's main airlines are putting off deliveries of over 100 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Still, they have kept every single order for planes made by domestic aircraft manufacturer the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). During difficult times, the airline industry’s move highlights COMAC’s strategic importance to the Chinese airline industry. In 2020, half of all COMAC’s deliveries went to the big three state carriers.
Ice and snow industry injects vigor into Harbin's development
>> The 47th Harbin Ice Lantern Fair recently kicked off in the northern Chinese city of Harbin. As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics draw near, Harbin has taken the opportunity to promote the development of the ice and snow industry at both supply and demand ends to meet the needs of tourists and travel agencies post-pandemic.
