Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
China airline aid raises hopes for policy support
Reuters - Friday, November 28
By Fang Yan and Alison Leung
SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Nov 27 - China's state aid for its biggest airline is too little, too late to avoid losses this year but it has raised hopes of more policy support for a debt-laden, inefficient industry as it confronts a faltering economy.
China Southern Airlines <1055.HK> <600029.SS>, the country's largest carrier by fleet size, said late on Wednesday that its state-owned parent would get a 3 billion yuan capital injection from the government.
This looks set to be the first step of a government rescue of state-run airlines, including Air China <0753.HK> <601111.SS> and China Eastern <0670.HK> <600115.SS>, hit hard by weak air traffic demand and hefty losses on fuel price hedging.
"There is no doubt that Air China and China Eastern will both get similar aid packages soon. But they will probably all end up in the red this year as the cash injection is too late to bolster their bottom lines," said Li Lei, an industry analyst with China Securities.
China's airlines, which began to boom after putting the 2003 SARS crisis behind them and as China's brisk economic growth spurred business and leisure travel, saw a sudden reversal of fortune early this year with a series of natural disasters and a sudden economic slowdown.
With high levels of debt as they aggressively built up their fleets and with notoriously low levels of service and efficiency after years in a stodgy state-run system, they had been especially vulnerable and were seeking partners to bolster their finances and operations even before the downturn.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
China Southern said it was considering a share placement to its state parent in return for some of the government funds, although any such move would require government approval.
China Eastern's shares were suspended from trade as it announced its parent company was also applying for state aid, while Air China's Hong Kong-listed shares surged 9.41 percent to HK$1.86 in anticipation that it would benefit as well.
A source familiar with the matter had told Reuters last week that Air China's parent company was also seeking a cash injection from the government.
Several analysts saw the aid approval as a clear sign that Beijing, which earlier this month announced a 4 trillion yuan stimulus plan to boost the country's economy, was willing to support the airline sector.
"We believe this injection is simply a temporary solution to the financial difficulties facing China Southern. We expect a more far-reaching industry restructuring process to occur in 2009," UBS said in a research note.
The government is widely expected to play a major role in orchestrating industry consolidation.
Government officials have been moving to broker a merger of China Eastern and its smaller cross-town rival Shanghai Airlines <600591.SS>, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Smaller, cash-strapped non-state carriers, which have little hope of getting government aid, may also become acquisition targets, industry analysts said.
The aid, expected to help cut debt-to-asset ratios at the airlines running as high as 90 percent or more, will also make them more attractive to potential foreign partners, they added.
China Eastern remains keen for a tie-up with Singapore Air <SIAL.SI>, even though the Chinese carrier's shareholders early this year rejected a $920 million deal to sell a 24 percent stake to Singapore Air and its majority owner Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL].
Singapore Air has also been under pressure from shareholders to give up on China Eastern, due to concerns about poor service and weak financials, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters.
Merrill Lynch said on Thursday it believed that increasing government ownership of China Southern through a possible share issue could bring in Air France-KLM Group <AIRF.PA> as a strategic partner.
China Southern said in June it planned to set up a 75 percent-owned air cargo venture with an Air France-KLM unit, but made no mention of bringing it in as an investor.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Tamil Tiger chief dismisses Sri Lankan offensiveAP - 35 minutes ago
Japan leader irks public with insensitive remarkAP - 43 minutes ago
Indian police surround Jewish center hit by gunmenAP - 47 minutes ago
Official: Taiwan's Chen ends hunger strikeAP - 1 hour 6 minutes ago
Thailand cabinet may impose state of emergencyAP - 1 hour 9 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Fed, Treasury offer $800 bln more to credit markets
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
Love handles increase death risk: study
US clears Bank of America deal for Merrill Lynch
US president's mother 'doing very well' in hospital: Laura Bush
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular