The Covid-19 pandemic took a financial toll on Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines in 2021 despite early optimism that the Chinese domestic market could fully recover during the year. In separate notices to the Hong Kong stock exchange Friday, Air China warned of a 14.5-17b yuan ($2.3-2.7b) loss in 2021. China Eastern forecast an 11-13b yuan loss, and China Southern an 11.3-12.8b yuan loss. All three carriers pointed fingers at the pandemic for their poor financial performance during the year. Air China cited repeated “fluctuations” in domestic traffic amid changing Covid-19 restrictions that made it “increasingly difficult for [Air China] to improve its operating performance.” While China Southern cited a “sluggish” domestic travel recovery, and China Eastern the continued near-total closure of China’s borders. Data from IATA show monthly domestic Chinese passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) gyrating in a way that, when graphed, looks something akin to a roller coaster. After ending 2020 near 2019 traffic levels, the market fell off to down around 50% in February before surpassing levels last seen two years earlier from March through May. Traffic numbers remained below 2019 levels for the balance of the year but with additional peaks and valleys. Overall, Chinese domestic traffic was down on average 24.4% year-over-two-years in all of 2021. Each carrier’s individual data prove that out. China Southern — the largest domestic carrier of the three — carried 24% fewer RPKs last year than in 2019, China Eastern 25% less, and Air China 27% less, data from each carrier show. And, as China Eastern noted, all three airlines have been hobbled by China’s border closures. The country’s flag carrier Air China carried just 3% of its 2019 international passenger traffic last year. <br/>
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Singapore Airlines is planning to resume daily commercial flight from Singapore to the Indonesian resort island of Bali on February 16, 2022. SIA will operate Boeing B787-10 with a capacity of 337 seats for the flight route. The seats comprise 36 business class seats and 301 economic class seats. "The plan to resume daily flight to Bali is part of SIA's long-term commitment to boosting the Indonesian tourism industry. SIA's passenger network currently covers 64 destinations in 34 countries and we will do the best to promote Indonesia," Singapore Airlines General Manager for Indonesia Alvin Seah said Sunday.<br/>