Major airlines booming

China’s major airlines are booming. China Southern Airlines carried 6.59 million passengers in September, up 20% over the same period in 2009, and 20% more mail and cargo. Passenger load factor climbed 79.9%.
China Eastern Airlines carried 5.62 million passengers in September, up 53.61% from a year earlier, and 31.88% more mail and cargo. Passenger load factor soared 78.99%.
Air China carried 3.97 million passengers in September, up 20% year-on-year, and 7.8% more mail and cargo. Passenger load factor surged 82.1%.
China Briefing reported that China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China raised their fuel surcharges on domestic services on October 27. For routes shorter than 800 kilometers (497 miles), the three major airlines and six local carriers now charge RMB40 (US$6) per passenger from the previous RMB20. The surcharge for routes longer than 800 kilometers is now RMB70 (US$10.54) from RMB40 previously.