Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Outbound continues to improve, March load factor matched pre-Covid level</li>
<li>Appears Chinese tourists are "spreading their wings", travelling farther afield</li>
<li>Trip.com has been best YTD performer in the space; can airlines catch up?</li>
</ul>


Outbound continues to improve, March load factor matched pre-Covid level
Appears Chinese tourists are "spreading their wings", travelling farther afield
Trip.com has been best YTD performer in the space; can airlines catch up?


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Outbound Recovery Continues, but Some Regional Destinations Lag

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>Losses at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.</li>
<li>Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. </li>
<li>Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.</li>
</ul>


Losses at Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) narrowed by 42.8% YoY to Rmb1.67bn in 1Q24. If not for the exchange losses, it will be reduced to below Rmb1bn.
Higher jet fuel prices have dragged result despite record 1Q revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% decline in unit costs indicated profitability is climbing. 
Valuations are too depressed as the share price is still lacklustre but quarterly losses and gross margin have already trimmed from the troughs of Rmb10.5bn and -98%, respectively.


Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> had 15.4% interest-bearing debt denominated in USD, vs. 21.3% for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-southern-airlines-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1078:1" rel="noopener">China Southern Airlines (1055 HK)</a>, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. </li>
<li>Recovery of international traffic and routes will help to lower unit costs. Air China's unit costs for FY23 were Rmb4.0445, whereas CSA's were only Rmb3.2000.</li>
<li>There is more upside for Air China's load factor which was down 7.8pp YoY in FY23, compared with -4.7pp for CSA. </li>
</ul>



Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) had 15.4% interest-bearing debt denominated in USD, vs. 21.3% for China Southern Airlines (1055 HK), making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. 
Recovery of international traffic and routes will help to lower unit costs. Air China's unit costs for FY23 were Rmb4.0445, whereas CSA's were only Rmb3.2000.
There is more upside for Air China's load factor which was down 7.8pp YoY in FY23, compared with -4.7pp for CSA. 


China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

<ul>
<li>Chinese outbound travel demand continued to recover nicely in February</li>
<li>Major airlines' decision to slow capacity rebuild now looks very prudent</li>
<li>But the airlines have underperformed, surprisingly; Buy Trip.com below US$43</li>
</ul>


Chinese outbound travel demand continued to recover nicely in February
Major airlines' decision to slow capacity rebuild now looks very prudent
But the airlines have underperformed, surprisingly; Buy Trip.com below US$43


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Decision to Slow Capacity Rebuild in Mid-2023 Now Looks Prudent

<ul>
<li>Adjusting for impact of LNY timing, January numbers still seem firm</li>
<li>Headline February / LNY 2024 traffic growth also appears solid</li>
<li>Our thesis remains that tourism recovery takes longer, strongest in H124</li>
</ul>


Adjusting for impact of LNY timing, January numbers still seem firm
Headline February / LNY 2024 traffic growth also appears solid
Our thesis remains that tourism recovery takes longer, strongest in H124


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | January & Initial Read On February Both Indicate Solid Growth

China

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited operates airline businesses. The Company provides passenger transport, air freight, air catering, and other related services. China Eastern Airlines conducts businesses worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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China Eastern Airlines Lt (600115 CH)

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Outbound Recovery Continues, but Some Regional Destinations Lag

The recovery in Chinese outbound tourism demand continued in March, but certain data suggest the pace of growth for some regional destinations is...

Tracking Traffic

Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Exchange losses, lower load, and higher jet fuel prices dragged 1Q24 despite record revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% unit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Decision to Slow Capacity Rebuild in Mid-2023 Now Looks Prudent

February outbound travel demand continued to recovery nicely, and the major airlines' decision to slow their capacity rebuild in H223 now appears...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | January & Initial Read On February Both Indicate Solid Growth

In January 2024 Chinese travel demand continued to recover, and initial indications are that demand related to the long LNY holiday was also strong.

Tracking Traffic

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Outbound Recovery Continues, but Some Regional Destinations Lag

The recovery in Chinese outbound tourism demand continued in March, but certain data suggest the pace of growth for some regional destinations is...

Tracking Traffic

Air China (753 HK): Steering Back to the Right Lane

Exchange losses, lower load, and higher jet fuel prices dragged 1Q24 despite record revenue. However, an 8.3pp YoY margin expansion and a 4% unit...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Pair Trade Idea: Long Air China (753 HK), Short CSA (1055 HK)

​Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Decision to Slow Capacity Rebuild in Mid-2023 Now Looks Prudent

February outbound travel demand continued to recovery nicely, and the major airlines' decision to slow their capacity rebuild in H223 now appears...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | January & Initial Read On February Both Indicate Solid Growth

In January 2024 Chinese travel demand continued to recover, and initial indications are that demand related to the long LNY holiday was also strong.

Tracking Traffic

Air China has lower USD debt than CSA, making it less exposed to Rmb depreciation. Recovery of international traffic will lower unit costs and...