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### Viewing cable 06GUANGZHOU32347, China Southern Airlines: Turning a Profit but No Plans for

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06GUANGZHOU32347 | 2006-11-29 09:01 | 2011-08-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Guangzhou

`

    VZCZCXRO1072
    RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
    DE RUEHGZ #2347/01 3330901
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 290901Z NOV 06
    FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5514
    INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
    RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
    RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
    RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUANGZHOU 032347

    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR EB/TRA/AN, EAP/CM
    USPACOM FOR FPA

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: EAIR ECON KTIA CH
    SUBJECT: China Southern Airlines: Turning a Profit but No Plans for
    New U.S. Routes

    REFERENCE: A) Guangzhou 11471; B) Guangzhou 8841; C) 05 Guangzhou
    32752

    (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified.  Please handle
    accordingly.

    ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT:  In a November 28 meeting with the
    Consul General, China Southern Airlines President Si Xianmin
    discussed his airline's improving financial health, its relationship
    with U.S. suppliers and airlines, the state of the Chinese airline
    industry, and the recent technical test flight of an A380 in
    Guangzhou.  China Southern currently operates only one route to the
    U.S. (via Los Angeles); and previous plans to open a Beijing-New
    York route are on hold.  The company remains at the mercy of an
    inefficient fuel pricing system and faces increasing competition
    from international carriers with better brand recognition and more
    international routes.  END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.

    Company Overview
    ----------------

    ¶2. (SBU) China Southern has the largest airline fleet in China and
    the most domestic routes, according to China Southern President Si
    Xianmin.  By the end of 2006, China Southern will have 300
    airplanes, of which approximately 200 are Boeing and 100 are Airbus.
     (Si was careful to note that two-thirds of China Southern airplanes
    are Boeing.)  The airline served more than 40 million passengers in
    2005, accounting for over one-third of the China market and ranking
    10th in the world.  Si expects that China Southern will serve more
    than 50 million passengers in 2006.

    Financial Status
    ----------------

    ¶3. (SBU) After reporting losses throughout 2005 and the first half
    of 2006, China Southern turned a profit in the third quarter of
    ¶2006.  Si cited lower fuel prices as an important - but not the only
    - factor affecting the company's improved financial performance.
    Nevertheless, he complained that China's fuel pricing system is slow
    to react to international price declines, though quick to respond to
    increases.

    ¶4. (SBU) Si indicated that China Southern's performance in the
    fourth quarter would not reach third-quarter levels, largely because
    of a traditional downturn in market demand during the winter season.
     Nevertheless, he said the airline's strong presence in central and
    southern China will alleviate some of the losses from the
    less-traveled colder northeast and northwestern regions.

    U.S. Routes
    -----------

    ¶5. (SBU) China Southern currently operates direct flights from
    Guangzhou to Los Angeles five days per week.  According to Mimi
    Chan, China Southern International Relations staff, the L.A. route
    continues to lose money and China Southern has no immediate plans to
    increase its frequency.  (In an April 2006 meeting, China Southern
    representatives said the airline was considering moving to seven
    flights per week by October 2006.  At the same meeting,
    representatives said the L.A. flight is usually only 65 percent full
    in contrast to 70 percent for other flights and attracts too few
    business and first class passengers. See Reftel A)

    ¶6. (SBU) When asked about plans to offer a Beijing-New York flight
    (mentioned by China Southern representatives in the April 2006
    meeting), Si declined to comment and said the airline is moving
    cautiously because of strong competition from Air China out of
    Beijing and has not yet made a final decision.

    Suppliers: Boeing and GE
    ------------------------

    ¶7. (SBU) Si emphasized that China Southern has good business
    relationships with both Boeing and GE, which produces the engines
    China Southern uses on its Boeing aircraft.  He noted that China
    Southern introduced the Boeing 737, 757, and 777 to the China market
    and ordered 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2005.  (China Southern also
    ordered six Boeing 777 cargo jets in October 2006 and 50 A320s in
    July 2006.)  Si traveled to GE headquarters in the U.S. in June 2006
    for two weeks of meetings and training, which he said has led to
    improved communication between senior management of both companies.

    GUANGZHOU 00032347  002 OF 002

    Working with U.S. Airlines
    --------------------------

    ¶8. (SBU) When asked about cooperation with U.S. airlines, Si said
    China Southern works most closely with Delta and Northwest.  (China
    Southern has a code-share agreement with Delta and a frequent-flier
    program with Northwest Airlines.)  He said China Southern has
    invited partners to invest in its cargo business.  Though three
    companies have expressed interest in cooperating on cargo flights,
    reportedly including Northwest, none have made investment offers.

    Competitors
    -----------

    ¶9. (SBU) Si said the expansion of Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific
    Airlines into mainland China has increased pressure on China
    Southern and other mainland airlines.  He noted that Cathay Pacific
    has distinct advantages in pricing, international routes, and
    service.  He added that senior management from Taiwan's China Air
    recently expressed the same concerns to him.

    ¶10. (SBU) Si doubted that China's growing number of small, private
    airlines would thrive because of problems relating to their small
    scale, poor safety management, and shortage of skilled staff.  He
    said the China market currently has room for only the three dominant
    airlines.

    Airbus 380 Flight to Guangzhou
    ------------------------------

    ¶11. (SBU) China Southern is the only Chinese airline that has agreed
    to purchase the A380, with five on order.  On November 22, an A380
    landed in Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport for flight certification
    testing.  Mimi Chan told us that approximately 15 China Southern
    pilots and technicians flew with the airplane on a route that
    circled Guilin and returned to Guangzhou.  The airplane then flew to
    Shanghai and Beijing.

    GOLDBERG

`