--FILE--piani di China Eastern Airlines sono visti presso l'Aeroporto Internazionale di Shanghai Pudong di Shanghai, Cina, 8 aprile 2010. Chinas grandi compagnie aeree
--FILE--Planes of China Eastern Airlines are seen at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, 8 April 2010. Chinas big airlines are racing to boost their international reach as an increasingly congested home market weighs on earnings. The nations three state-owned carriers, which together account for nearly 80% of Chinas commercial airline traffic, have expanded internationally in the past few years as more Chinese citizens have traveled abroad. Much of the focus was on connecting Chinese hubs, such as Beijing and Shanghai, with big international destinations. And the expansion has been slow and uneven. In recent months, though, the pace of international growth has accelerated. International traffic at Air China Ltd., China Southern Airlines Co and China Eastern Airlines Corp. jumped 18% to 23% last month from a year earlier, outpacing mid-single-digit growth in domestic traffic. And the focus overseas is shifting. Airlines are linking Chinese hubs with more second-tier international gateways, and connecting more second-tier Chinese cities with international hubs. Carriers also are targeting more customers for connecting flights. China Southern is increasing flights to Europe and Australia to move travellers between the two continents. Chinese airlines are launching 23 new international routes in the winter schedule that took effect Sunday, according to the nations aviation regulator.
