Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 25416 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen Thailand

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06 2011/07 2011/08
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21 2011/06/22 2011/06/23 2011/06/24 2011/06/25 2011/06/26 2011/06/27 2011/06/28 2011/06/29 2011/06/30
2011/07/01 2011/07/02 2011/07/04 2011/07/05 2011/07/06 2011/07/07 2011/07/08 2011/07/10 2011/07/11 2011/07/12 2011/07/13 2011/07/14 2011/07/15 2011/07/16 2011/07/17 2011/07/18 2011/07/19 2011/07/20 2011/07/21 2011/07/22 2011/07/23 2011/07/25 2011/07/27 2011/07/28 2011/07/29 2011/07/31
2011/08/01 2011/08/02 2011/08/03 2011/08/05 2011/08/06 2011/08/07 2011/08/08 2011/08/09 2011/08/10 2011/08/11 2011/08/12 2011/08/13 2011/08/15 2011/08/16 2011/08/17 2011/08/18 2011/08/19 2011/08/21 2011/08/22 2011/08/23

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/09 1988/12
1989/01 1989/06 1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/06 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/11 1992/12
1993/01 1993/02 1993/04 1993/10 1993/12
1994/05 1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04 1995/06 1995/11
1996/07 1996/08 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/03 1997/05 1997/06 1997/08 1997/10 1997/11 1997/12
1998/05 1998/12
1999/01 1999/09 1999/12
2000/04 2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11 2000/12
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/06 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Alexandria Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai Consulate Chennai Consulate Chengdu Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Izmir Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy Libreville Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maseru Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nouakchott Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AE ADM ACOA AID ASEAN AMED AORG APEC AY AL AGOA ATRN AG ALOW AND ADB ABUD ASPA ADPM ADANA AFSI ARABL ADCO AFSN ACABQ AO ANARCHISTS AZ ANET AMEDCASCKFLO AADP AGRICULTURE AINT ARR ARF AINF APRC AFSA AX AINR AODE APCS AROC AGAO ASUP AIT ARCH AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL AMEX ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ARAS ACBAQ AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX ASCE AER AGR AVERY ASCH AEMRS AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AGMT ACS AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BE BMGT BO BTIO BX BC BH BM BN BAIO BUSH BRPA BILAT BF BOEHNER BOL BIDEN BP BURNS BBG BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CB CW CM CHR CD CT CTERR CVR CDC CN CONS CR CAMBODIA CACS COUNTRY CFIS CONDOLEEZZA CEN CZ CLEARANCE CARICOM COM CICTE CYPRUS CITES CV CBE CMGMT COE CIVS CFED COUNTER CAPC COPUOS CARSON CTR CKGR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CQ CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CAJC CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DB DA DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DK DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DAC DOD DCG DE DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ES ELTN EIND EZ EU EI ER ET EINT ENGR ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ESTH EET EUREM ENV EAG EAP ECONOMY ELECTIONS ETRO ECIP EPEC EXIM ERNG ENERG ED EREL ELAM EK EDEV ENGY ETRDEC ECCT EPA ENGRD ECLAC ETRAD ENVR ELTNSNAR ELAP ETRC EPIT EDUC EFI EEB EETC EIVN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETRDGK ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS ECOSOC EDU EPREL EINVEFIN EAGER ECA ETMIN EIDN EINVKSCA EFINECONCS ETC EINN EXBS ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS EDRC ENRD EBRD ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FOREIGN FAO FARM FARC FAS FJ FREEDOM FINANCE FBI FTAA FM FCS FAA FTA FK FT FAC FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GERARD GT GA GG GR GTIP GE GH GY GB GJ GLOBAL GEORGE GCC GC GV GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GTMO GANGS GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HA HYMPSK HO HK HUMAN HU HN HHS HUD HUMANR HSTC HURI HILLARY HI HUM HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IPR IDB ID IRAQI ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN IADB ICAO ICRC INR ICJ ICCAT IFAD IO ITRA INL IAHRC IRAQ INMARSAT INRA INTELSAT INTERNAL ILC IRS INDO IIP IND IEFIN IQ ISCON ICTY IA INTERPOL IEA INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOHN JUS JN JAMES JOSEPH JOHNNIE JML JIMENEZ
KMDR KPAO KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KTER KS KN KSPR KWMN KV KTFN KFRD KSTH KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KSAF KU KHIV KNNNP KSTC KNUP KIRF KIRC KNUC KHLS KTDD KMPI KIDE KMFO KSEO KJUST KPIR KIVP KICC KCFE KSCS KGLB KPWR KCUL KPOP KPALAOIS KR KTTB KCOM KESS KWN KCSY KREL KTBT KRFD KFLOA KPOL KIND KBCT KSKN KOCI KHUM KPRP KREC KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KGIT KMCC KPRV KAUST KPAS KPAOPREL KIRP KLAB KHSA KPAONZ KICA KCRIM KHDP KNAR KSAC KCRCM KINR KGHA KIIP KPAOY KTRD KTAO KWAC KACT KSCI KNPP KMRS KNNPMNUC KBTS KERG KLTN KTLA KNDP KO KAWK KVRP KPOA KVIR KENV KAID KX KRCM KFSC KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRIM KRAD KBTR KGCC KPA KSEC KPIN KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KWMNCS KFPC KPAK KOMS KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LH LAB LTTE LT LO LI LU LA LVPR LG LR LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MCC MO MAS MG MC MCA MZ MI MIL MU MR MT MTCR ML MN MURRAY MEPP MP MINUSTAH MA MD MAR MAPP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPOS MPS
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NSF NP NA NANCY NRR NATIONAL NASA NC NDP NIH NIPP NK NSSP NEGROPONTE NGO NAS NE NATOIRAQ NR NAR NZUS NARC NCCC NH NSG NAFTA NEW NT NUIN NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG NOAA
OPRC OTRA OECD OVIP OREP ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OIE OSCI OFDP OPAD ODPC OCEA ODIP OMIG OM OFFICIALS OEXP OPEC OVIPPRELUNGANU OSHA OSIC OHUM OTR OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PA PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PKO PNAT PELOSI PP PRE PUNE PALESTINIAN PAS PO PROV PH PLAB PCI PERM PETR PRELBR PETERS PROP PBS POLITICAL PMIL PJUS PG PREZ PGIC PAO PRELPK PGOVENRG PATTY PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PAIGH PROG PMAR PU PTE PDOV PGOVSOCI PY PETER PGOR PBTSRU PRAM PARMS PINL PSI PPA PTERE PREO PERL PGOF PINO PRGOV PORG PS PGVO PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR
QA QI
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL RO ROBERT RM ROOD RICE REGION RGY RELFREE RELAM RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SO SP SU SY SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SG SF SENS SEN SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR SN SC SECRETARY SNA ST SK SL SANC SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SE SAARC STEINBERG SCRS SWE SARS SENVQGR SNARIZ SUDAN SAN SM SIPDIS SFNV SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SHI SEVN SHUM SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TW TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TRSY TC TINT TZ TN TT TR TA TIO TF TK TRAD TNDG TWI TD TWL TERRORISM TL TV TP THPY TO TURKEY TSPAM TREL TRT TFIN TAGS TWCH TBID
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UY UNSCR UNRCR UNESCO USAID UNHRC USAU UNICEF UV USPS UNFICYP UNDP UNCITRAL UNHCR UNCSD UNEP USCC UNMIC UNTAC USUN USDA UNCHR UR UNCTAD USGS UNFPA USOAS USNC UA UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNCHC UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VM VE VT VZ VEPREL VN VTEG VOA VTIZ VTPREL VISIT VENZ VAT VC VI
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WHO WEET WCL WFP WS WHA WA WZ WI WMD WBG WILLIAM WWARD WITH WTRQ WCO WEU WMO WB
XA XX XK XL XM XS XF XR XY XG XT XI XE XW XC XH XD XU XV XB XZ XQ XTAG
YI YM YE YL YMCS
ZU ZI ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZK ZA ZO ZF ZL ZB ZN ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06GUANGZHOU16330, SHENZHEN AIRLINES PLANS TO SOAR

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06GUANGZHOU16330.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06GUANGZHOU16330 | 2006-06-01 05:51 | 2011-08-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Guangzhou

`

    VZCZCXRO4024
    RR RUEHAG RUEHCN RUEHDF RUEHGH RUEHIK RUEHLZ
    DE RUEHGZ #6330/01 1520728
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 010551Z JUN 06 ZDK
    FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9645
    INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
    RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
    RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0326
    RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0017
    RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
    RUWMDUA/FAA WESTERN PACIFIC RGN HQ LOS ANGELES CA
    RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
    RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
    RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 GUANGZHOU 016330

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR EAP/CM AND EBA/TRA/AN ENGLE, DEMARS
    STATE PASS USTR FOR STRATFORD/WINTER/ALTBACH
    BEIJING FOR CRAIG REILLY
    TOKYO FOR FAA
    DOT FOR OFFICE OF INTL AVIATION OPPLER, BLOCH, GLATZ
    COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC- DAS LEVINE, MCQUEEN
    COMMERCE FOR ITA/TD- ALFORD

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: EAIR ECON KTIA CH
    SUBJECT: SHENZHEN AIRLINES PLANS TO SOAR

    GUANGZHOU 00016330  001.2 OF 004

    (U) THIS DOCUMENT IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  PLEASE
    PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary.  During a recent meeting, Shenzhen
    Airlines Vice President Zhang Pei laid out the airline's
    ambitious expansion strategy.  Operating mostly Boeing
    aircraft, Shenzhen Air runs an efficient operation that has
    made it China's most profitable airline after flag carrier
    Air China.  However, its route network is relatively small
    and focused largely on South China.  Nonetheless, in ten
    years' time, Shenzhen Air plans to be operating a fleet of
    more than 150 aircraft across an extensive route network
    that will include numerous international routes, all while
    retaining the reputation for good service that has earned it
    top spot in passenger satisfaction surveys for the past
    eight years.  End summary.

    Company Profile
    ---------------

    ¶2. (U) During a recent meeting with Consulate officials,
    Shenzhen Airlines Vice President Zhang Pei discussed the
    airline's expansion plans, and shared his views on the
    future of aviation in Shenzhen and the Pearl River Delta
    (PRD).  Shenzhen Air was founded in 1992 and its maiden
    flight took off on September 17, 1993.  Since then, the
    airline's fleet has grown from two to 35 aircraft, the vast
    majority of which (32) belong to the Boeing 737 family (300,
    700, 800 and 900 series).  The remaining three aircraft are
    Airbus planes: one A320 and two A319.  Shenzhen Air plans to
    add 13 new aircraft (seven Boeings and six Airbuses) to the
    fleet by the end of 2006, bringing the total to 48.
    According to passenger satisfaction surveys, Shenzhen Air
    has been the preferred airline in China during the last
    eight years.

    A Local Company
    ---------------

    ¶3. (U) Shenzhen Air prides itself in its origins as a "local
    company" (`difang gongsi'), organized and funded largely by
    the Shenzhen government and local enterprises.  The airline
    then underwent ownership reform, and Guangdong Development
    Bank (GDB) acquired a controlling 65% interest.  In 2005,
    GDB auctioned off its shares to two private companies,
    Huirun Investment and Yiyang (Bright Ocean) Group, for RMB
    2.72 billion (USD 328 million).  Air China (25%) and the
    Shenzhen government (10%) hold the remaining shares.

    A Young Company As Well
    -----------------------

    ¶4. (U) Shenzhen Air employs more than 5,000 employees, about
    2,000 of them in its core business.  The remaining 3,000
    work in its upstream and downstream businesses, which
    include a catering service, travel agencies, and a hotel in
    downtown Shenzhen.  The average age of a Shenzhen Air
    employee is 27, and the airline has no more than 20
    employees over the age of 50.

    Not Just Shenzhen's Hometown Airline
    ------------------------------------

    ¶5. (SBU) Shenzhen Air currently operates more than 80
    routes, the vast majority of them domestic.  As one would
    guess, the airline's main hub is in Shenzhen.  From the
    city's Bao'an International Airport, Shenzhen Air flies to
    over 45 domestic destinations.  Internationally, the airline
    has flown from Shenzhen to Kuala Lumpur and Seoul, but those
    flights are currently suspended.  It also plans to begin
    flights to Ho Chi Minh City in August.  (Note:  The
    suspensions were not mentioned during the meeting, and
    neither was the fact that the Ho Chi Minh flights were still

    GUANGZHOU 00016330  002 OF 004

    in the planning stage.  We found out these facts after
    calling the airline's hotline to ask why the Ho Chi Minh and
    Seoul flights -- but not the ones to Kuala Lumpur -- were
    omitted from the airline's online flight schedule.  End
    note.)

    ¶6. (U) The airline also has operational bases in Guangzhou,
    Nanning (Guangxi), Wuxi (Jiangsu), and Shenyang (Liaoning),
    and plans to open one in Zhengzhou (Henan) this summer.
    These are all modest affairs, but the airline plans to use
    some of the new aircraft it will receive later this year to
    bolster these regional bases.

    Go West (And North And Abroad), Young Airline
    ---------------------------------------------

    ¶7. (SBU) Meanwhile, the recent opening of a base in Shenyang
    highlights Shenzhen Air's intention of expanding its
    operations in China's northeast.  The airline hopes to open
    up new bases in the west of the country within the next
    three years.

    Shanghai, Here We Come
    ----------------------

    ¶8. (SBU) Although South China will remain the airline's core
    area of operations, Shenzhen Air is poised to significantly
    "penetrate" the booming Yangtze River Delta (YRD), centered
    around Shanghai.  The airline recognizes that Shanghai's own
    two airports, Pudong and Hongqiao, are tough, saturated nuts
    to crack, and plans instead to aim at nearby airports, a
    strategy that has proved successful for low-cost carriers
    (LCC) in Europe and the United States.  To this end, the
    airline has acquired the airports in Nantong (Jiangsu) and
    Changzhou (Jiangsu), cities 60 and 100 miles away from
    Shanghai, respectively.  Meanwhile, its existing base in
    Wuxi is 80 miles away, and the airline plans to buy that
    airport as well.

    In Three Years, The Chinese LCC
    -------------------------------

    ¶9. (SBU) Turning to the airline's long-term plans, Vice
    President Pei explained that, under the leadership of
    President Li Kun (a former vice president at rival China
    Southern Airlines), Shenzhen Air set what is known as the 3-
    6-9 Strategy for expansion, marked by three-, six- and nine-
    year plans.  The three-year plan calls for an expanded fleet
    of 60-70 narrow-body planes, e.g., 737s, with a route
    network that would continue to focus on domestic
    destinations, plus those in nearby countries.  In Pei's
    words, the airline does not aspire to become China's "number
    one" during this period, but instead wishes to establish
    itself as the "LCC with Chinese characteristics."

    In Six, A Globally Known Brand
    ------------------------------

    ¶10. (SBU) Looking ahead to the six-year mark, Shenzhen Air's
    plans take a decided turn for the ambitious.  By that time,
    it not only plans to be an intercontinental airline, flying
    to Europe and North America, but it plans to do so as a
    respected, well-known brand (`mingpai'), ostensibly moving
    away from the LCC tag.

    In Nine, First Choice In Air Travel
    -----------------------------------

    ¶11. (SBU) Finally, in nine years, Shenzhen Air hopes to have
    a "global presence" and be passengers' "first choice,"
    operating a fleet of 150-160 planes.  At that time, it plans
    to operate more than ten hubs in China, including one in
    Beijing, where it would focus its international operations.

    GUANGZHOU 00016330  003 OF 004

    Profiteers
    ----------

    ¶12. (U) Shenzhen Air embarks on its path to glory from solid
    ground.  In the first quarter of 2006, Shenzhen Air's
    business revenue was the second-highest among Chinese
    airlines, after Air China.  This is not a small feat given
    Shenzhen Air's relatively low number of flights and its lack
    of profitable long-haul international routes.  With profits
    before tax of RMB 120 million (USD 14.94 million) in the
    first quarter, the airline is set to surpass its target of
    RMB 200 million (USD 24.9 million) for the whole year in
    less than half that time.

    The Secret Of Their Success
    ---------------------------

    ¶13. (U) Rising fuel prices are the bane of Chinese airlines'
    existence, but in spite of that situation, Shenzhen Air has
    managed to keep its costs low and, in turn, its profits
    high.  Vice President Pei attributes the airline's success
    in this regard to two key factors:  One, the airline pays
    much more attention to effective flight planning than its
    domestic rivals.  While some companies establish flight
    routings and fuel loads only twice a year, at Shenzhen Air
    every flight is routed individually, taking into account its
    particular payload, as well as the current weather and the
    type of aircraft operated.  This gives the airline the
    opportunity to save at least some fuel on each flight.
    Meanwhile, personnel -- pilots, flight planners and
    dispatchers -- are given bonuses for saving fuel.  It is
    also standard company policy to tow aircraft while on land,
    rather than letting them taxi on their own power.

    Safety Is Tops
    --------------

    ¶14. (U) Despite the vital efforts to save fuel, Vice
    President Pei reiterated that there was no penalty imposed
    for a failure to save fuel or use more than was planned, in
    the interest of safety.  The airline is proud of its strong
    security record, and its incident rate stands at a low 0.2
    per million hours.  In its 13 years of operations, the
    airline has not suffered a single crash, and not one life
    has been lost during the course of its operations.

    Pilot Shortage
    --------------

    ¶15. (SBU) Shenzhen Air's preferred source for incoming
    pilots is the military, but in recent years the number of
    available flyboys has decreased, while competition for them
    has increased.  The airline also takes fresh graduates from
    flying school, often sending them on to more training, but
    at times this has not been enough to cover its demands, and
    it has resorted to hiring foreign pilots.  At the height of
    this practice, it had in its payroll 60 pilots from 16
    countries, but now the number is down to 19.  Intriguingly,
    Shenzhen Air's leading source for foreign pilots is Brazil.
    (Note:  This would make more sense if Shenzhen Air operated
    any Brazilian-made Embraer aircraft, but it does not.  End
    note.)

    Visa Woes
    ---------

    ¶16. (SBU) Vice President Pei took advantage of the
    opportunity to comment on problem his company has allegedly
    faced because of current U.S. visa policies.  Pei claimed
    that many of his pilots bound for training in the United
    States have had their applications held up because of the
    need for further processing, causing grave inconveniences

    GUANGZHOU 00016330  004 OF 004

    for the airline, as the pilots must sometimes wait months
    for the next course to start.  Quick off the mark, the
    Canadian consul general in Hong Kong has made strong
    overtures to the airline, highlighting both the caliber of
    Canadian aviation academies and the relative ease of
    obtaining a Canadian visa.  (Note: Our consular section
    notes that, since the beginning of 2005, it has issued visas
    to 18 Shenzhen Air pilots.  With two SAO-related exceptions
    at the beginning of 2005, all were issued within two or
    three days of the interview.  This appears to be yet another
    example of public perceptions that are not in line with
    actual practices.  End note.)

    Delta Force
    -----------

    ¶17. (SBU) Turning to a discussion on the future of air
    travel in Shenzhen, Pei opined that Bao'an Airport had very
    limited potential as an international gateway for
    passengers.  Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), with
    its array of flights to every corner of the world, is easily
    accessible from Shenzhen and neighboring cities, and special
    arrangements in place obviate the need for passengers
    incoming from China and Macau to clear Hong Kong entry
    formalities before boarding a flight at HKIA.  Meanwhile,
    Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport still has formidable potential
    for growth in terms of handling capacity.  (Note:  In a
    later meeting with EconOffs (septel), Shenzhen Metro
    officials mentioned that future plans call for switching
    most of HKIA's China-bound flights to Shenzhen, allowing
    HKIA to focus on international flights solidifying
    Shenzhen's role as Hong Kong's aerial gateway to China.  End
    note.)

    ¶18. (SBU) While turning the international passengers over to
    Hong Kong and Guangzhou, Shenzhen seeks to carve a niche as
    an international air cargo hub for the PRD.  Doing its part
    to help, Shenzhen Air is the majority shareholder (51%) in
    Jade Cargo International, a joint venture with Lufthansa and
    other German concerns, which is the first cargo airline in
    China with any foreign ownership.  Jade is set to being
    operations in July with two 747-400s, and it plans to bring
    the size of its fleet up to six by the end of 2007.

    Comment: Staying Aloft
    ----------------------

    ¶19. (SBU) The projected growth of the Chinese aviation
    market reaches such heights that Shenzhen Air may well be
    operating 160 planes across a worldwide network by 2016, at
    the same time its rivals that survive consolidation
    experience comparable growth.  To accomplish this, however,
    the airline must continue of its path away from its roots as
    a strictly local airline.  The airline's expansion in the
    booming YRD and up-and-coming Sichuan will be key.
    Meanwhile, even if the plans prove a tad too ambitious for
    what is still one of China's second-tier airlines, its roots
    in the still-growing PRD and its reputation for good service
    should ensure that it remains a profitable, albeit
    relatively small, carrier.

    DONG

`