Foreign airlines lose interest in China as domestic carriers expand abroad

A China Southern Airlines plane in Beijing. — Reuters

CHINESE airlines are gaining market share on international routes, industry data shows, as foreign rivals are deterred by weak China travel demand and rising costs and extended flight times because of the need to avoid Russian airspace.

Foreign airlines, led by Western carriers such as British Airways and Australia’s Qantas Airways, are pulling services or opting not to restart flights to China after the pandemic, whereas Chinese airlines are expanding overseas operations.