Making A Splash

China Southern takes on its Western rivals

China’s big airlines are making inroads on the world stage and Asia’s biggest operator, China Southern Airlines, is leading the international growth charge, throwing its A380 superjumbo and 787 Dreamliner into the Australasian market as it strives to capture a bigger slice of Asia Pacific to Europe traffic. But market problems at home and old prejudices about service quality continue to create challenges.

Back in 2008 Qantas dominated air routes between Australia and mainland China, carrying 28 per cent of passengers. Cathay Pacific bled off 16 per cent via its Hong Kong hub, Beijing’s Air China had 14 per cent, Shanghai’s China Eastern Airlines (CEA) 10 per cent and Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines (CSA) just seven per cent.