Industry data shows that Chinese airlines are gaining market share on international routes as foreign competitors are deterred by weak demand for travel from China and rising costs and longer flight times due to the need to avoid Russian airspace.
Foreign airlines, especially Western carriers such as British Airways and Australia’s Qantas Airways, are either stopping flights to China or deciding not to resume flights to China after the pandemic, while Chinese airlines are expanding their overseas operations.
The share of international flights to and from China operated by Chinese airlines is higher than before COVID-19 shut down much of global aviation and continues to rise.