Net income rose to 4.61 billion yuan ($679 million) from 2.88 billion yuan a year earlier, the company said in a Hong Kong stock exchange statement. Sales rose 51 percent to 34.8 billion yuan.
The carrier, part-owned by Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., had a 721 million yuan gain from fuel hedging and boosted group passenger numbers 35 percent because of a bigger fleet and rising demand. This year will be ?great? for airlines worldwide, International Air Transport Association Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Bisignani said Tuesday.

Air China, the nation?s largest international carrier, boosted first-half operating profit 45 percent to 4.1 billion yuan. The Beijing-based carrier?s premium-class sales climbed ?significantly,? helping drive a 12 percent increase in yield, a measure of average fares. The group carried a total of 26.3 million passengers.
Under domestic accounting standards, Air China reported a first-half net income of 4.7 billion yuan and sales of 34.3 billion yuan.

Source : Konaxis

At least six flights were canceled, including round-trip flights between Beijing and Moscow, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Paris and London and from Shanghai to Frankfurt, Air China said on its Web site.

An official at the news office of the Beijing Capital International Airport said the number of cancellations would likely increase Friday.

A large ash cloud that spread over northern Europe after the eruption Thursday has caused the biggest flight disruption since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Airlines grounded flights since the ash can diminish visibility and knock out jet engines.

The Beijing airport issued a warning Friday to passengers on flights to Britain, Norway, Denmark and northwestern Russia to beware of cancellations and delays.

At least 50 flights between Asia and Europe were canceled Friday, stranding thousands of passengers. The slowdown has affected travelers and cargo shipment companies globally, which experts predict could create losses of millions of dollars.

Source : Konaxis

China Southern, Asia?s biggest carrier by passenger numbers, posted a net profit of 284 million yuan ($42 million), compared with a loss of 830 million yuan a year earlier, according to a stock exchange statement late Tuesday. Air China had an 885 million yuan profit, compared with a loss of 1.97 billion yuan. China Eastern, the nation?s No. 3 carrier, reported a profit of 23.2 million yuan, compared with a net loss of 2.33 billion yuan a year earlier.

Nationwide passenger numbers rose 20 percent in the first nine months. Air China and China Eastern also made fuel-hedging gains on rising oil prices.

China Southern, which predominately flies domestic routes, boosted sales 9.5 percent to 15.95 billion yuan. Air China, the nation?s largest international carrier, said sales rose 1.3 percent to 14.1 billion yuan. China Eastern?s sales climbed 5.5 percent to 11.4 billion yuan.

Chinese airlines are only allowed to use fuel-hedging on overseas routes as the government controls the price on domestic services. China Southern closed all of its hedging positions last year.

Source : Konaxis

From 18:00 one day before departure time until three hours before departure time, passengers purchasing e-tickets can log on to the official website of Air China at airchina.com.cn to select their favorite seats and print boarding passes on plain A4 paper.

The A4 boarding pass paper ticket in Air China’s online check-in service contains the two-dimensional bar code approved by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of the International Air Transport Association. With the A4 boarding pass, passengers may directly go to the waiting lobby after completing identification confirmation procedure at the boarding counter in the Hong Kong airport. This service is applicable to international flights departing from Hong Kong, as well as international and domestic flights departing from more than 37 domestic airports. No counter confirmation is needed in this service.

The Self-CKI system in Beijing Capital International Airport also supports online printing of boarding passes. Passengers may select seats on the website and print boarding passes in the airport. The 24-hour staff check-in service for Air China’s sales hotline, which is available seven days a week, is now cancelled.

Source : Chinatechnews