China’s biggest airlines plan more international flights

Bloomberg

China’s biggest airlines are planning more international flights, a sign the government is aware of the country’s growing isolation as it persists with lockdowns and mass testing internally — hallmarks of its Covid Zero policy.
China Eastern Airlines Corp., which was severely impacted by virus lockdowns in Shanghai, will operate 108 international flights a week from October 30 on 42 routes, including to Tokyo, Seoul and Dubai, according to an announcement on its Weibo social media account Weibo, up from 54 flights and 25 routes now. China Southern Airlines Corp., the country’s biggest carrier by passenger volume, will resume services to Tokyo, Jakarta, Dubai, Manila and Bangkok among other destinations at the end of the month, reports said.
Air China Ltd. resumed services in late September from various Chinese cities to Manila, Jakarta, Tokyo, Athens, Vancouver and Los Angeles. Hainan Airlines announced on Weibo on October 15 that it would add a second weekly flight between Chongqing and Rome from November 6.
Despite the damage it’s doing to the world’s second-biggest economy, President Xi Jinping has staunchly defended his Covid Zero policy and avoided setting a timeline for when China might join other countries in living with the virus, hailing his strategy for saving lives.
Pushback against the approach appears to be growing, however, especially in major cities as authorities continue to impose restrictions on millions of people, and the border remains effectively closed.
There have been signs of a slight thawing of travel controls, a potential sign authorities are aware of the discontent — and cost — of China being cut off from the rest of the world.
In June, authorities cut hotel quarantine for arrivals to seven days, and China’s aviation regulator said the following month that international flights should be resumed in a safe and orderly manner.
The cost of ongoing internal pandemic curbs and remaining isolated is becoming increasingly apparent, though, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning that China’s economic growth will likely slow to 3.2% this year, way below the government’s 5.5% goal.
For now, flights in and out of China remain at about 95 percent below pre-Covid levels, according to data provider
VariFlight.
China Southern shares rose as much as 3.6% in Hong Kong, while China Eastern added as much as 5.6% and Air China jumped 5.1%. Beijing Capital International Airport Co. advanced 3.1%.