China’s Big Three carriers see modest increase in May 2022 traffic

China’s Big Three airlines – China Southern Airlines (ZNH), China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA), and Air China – saw a month-on-month increase in passenger numbers amidst ongoing lockdowns in some of the country’s largest cities.

During the month, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA) carried the fewest passengers. The airline flew a total of 1.5 million passengers, an increase of 76% compared to April 2022.

Meanwhile, the country’s national carrier Air China carried a total of 1.8 million passengers, an increase of 36% month-on-month. China Southern Airlines (ZNH), the country’s largest carrier by fleet size, flew a total of 3.4 million passengers in May 2022.

According to all three airlines, the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in China remains “severe and complex”.