Several Chinese airlines have indicated a willingness to work with national railway operators as a way to deal with increased competition from the country’s new high-speed railways.
China’s rapidly expanding high-speed railways eventually will cover 60% of the market currently held by airlines and are predicted to be a major competitor of the air carriers within the next 20 years.
The airline industry has called for a combined air and rail transportation network to reduce the competition it now faces.
In the future China‘s airlines and railway operators will offer tickets for through travel and only require passengers to check their luggage once during their entire journey.
CRIEnglish.com reports that some airlines plan to submit a proposal to establish a combined air and rail transport system and comprehensive transportation junctions to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.