China: newfound aviation dominance?
A Chinese-dominated aviation world is not a talk of the future anymore.
China has long stood as a dominant figure in aviation, with over 230 carriers operating more than 7,000 aircraft and serving both domestic and international markets. The Chinese aviation scene is dominated by carriers like Air China, China Eastern and China Southern. Air China is the national flag carrier and Star Alliance member, whereas China Eastern is a SkyTeam member based in Shanghai, and China Southern, which is the country’s largest carrier by fleet, operates primarily with widebody jets. China also has prominent private airlines such as Hainan Airlines, its biggest private airline, which maintains codeshare partnerships to run domestic and international flights. People are now ever more attracted to these airlines’ competitive pricing and modern fuel-efficient fleets (like Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s), making China an attractive option for those travelling trans-Pacific. So, does this spell a new dawn for Chinese-dominated aviation?
Well, not entirely. Geopolitical tensions between China and the West have led to airspace restrictions and sanctions on Chinese carriers, making their access to European and Western markets extremely hard. Visas also play a critical role, as many destination countries still impose hard visa requirements on Chinese passport holders, causing outbound leisure travel to be difficult. Until these diplomatic hurdles are eased through bilateral agreements, Chinese airlines will struggle in fully capitalising on their growing fleet and superior quality.
But China is looking elsewhere too. Chinese carriers are opening new routes across Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. And bilateral visa-exemption deals with countries such as Serbia, the UAE and several Caribbean nations have begun to make travel easier. Thus, although China is facing several restrictions from Western powers to maintain their stronghold on the aviation market, it is finding its way. And a new dawn in Chinese aviation is surely just around the corner.
