China’s airlines get a holiday bonanza while virus haunts peers

The world’s harried airline bosses will look enviously at China this week as millions of people take to the skies for national holidays, helping Chinese carriers push even further ahead in recovering from the pandemic. The holiday starts with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day on Thursday and runs to Oct. 8. The so-called Golden Week is typically a time for families to reunite and will add momentum to a domestic rebound that’s lifting air travel within China back toward usual levels. More than 15 million people are due to fly over the period, a 10% increase from last year, according to Lan Xiang, head of the research division at online travel agent Qunar. Airlines elsewhere are mired in crisis as they struggle to rebuild networks and coax virus-wary passengers back onboard. Even with international routes largely off limits, Chinese carriers are better set thanks to their vast home market and success in bringing the virus under control. China’s airlines haven’t evaded the crisis altogether: the three biggest posted combined losses of almost $4b in the first half and the recovery won’t be enough to put them into the black by year-end. Their worst month was February, shortly after the outbreak began in Wuhan on the cusp of Chinese New Year, another major holiday. But just two months later, they were already sounding confident about overcoming the slump and luring passengers back with deals and unlimited flight offers. People now feel “very safe” flying within China and demand has picked up strongly, Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun said last week. Even business travel will rebound, she said, dismissing concerns that work trips are a thing of the past now that people have become more accustomed to virtual meetings.<br/>