HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>While China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) saw passenger traffic up 17.3% in Jan, this is at the expense of higher capacity, leading to a 1.8pp YoY passenger load contraction. </li>
<li>Its cargo traffic underperformed both CEA and Air China with a YoY decline; and this is disappointing in a period of time where airfreight rate is at record-breaking level.  </li>
<li>We see reduced local travel demand, higher operating costs, weaker cargo business, pressure on yield and higher base of comparison key challenges in 2022, and prefer Air China Ltd (753 HK). </li>
</ul>


While China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) saw passenger traffic up 17.3% in Jan, this is at the expense of higher capacity, leading to a 1.8pp YoY passenger load contraction. 
Its cargo traffic underperformed both CEA and Air China with a YoY decline; and this is disappointing in a period of time where airfreight rate is at record-breaking level.  
We see reduced local travel demand, higher operating costs, weaker cargo business, pressure on yield and higher base of comparison key challenges in 2022, and prefer Air China Ltd (753 HK). 


China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): A Tough Start

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<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 (753 HK)</a>, <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> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-eastern-airlines-co-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1079:1" rel="noopener">China Eastern Airlines (670 HK) </a>issued profit warnings for FY21, guiding for Rmb36.8-43.3bn aggregate losses, worse than FY20. </li>
<li>On QoQ basis, CSA's bottom line is significantly weaker as losses enlarged 3.1x in 4Q21, versus 38.4% for CEA and 54% for Air China, based on the mid-point of guidances.</li>
<li>We expect Air China to outperform CSA (YTD: 1.6pp), backed by more international traffic, border opening of China, favourable cargo demand and pricing, and improvement at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific (293 HK)</a>. </li>
</ul>



Air China Ltd (753 HK), China Southern Airlines (1055 HK) and China Eastern Airlines (670 HK) issued profit warnings for FY21, guiding for Rmb36.8-43.3bn aggregate losses, worse than FY20. 
On QoQ basis, CSA's bottom line is significantly weaker as losses enlarged 3.1x in 4Q21, versus 38.4% for CEA and 54% for Air China, based on the mid-point of guidances.
We expect Air China to outperform CSA (YTD: 1.6pp), backed by more international traffic, border opening of China, favourable cargo demand and pricing, and improvement at Cathay Pacific (293 HK). 


Chinese Airlines: A Tale of Three Loss-Making, but Outperforming, Companies

<ul>
<li>State Council's announcement of China 14th 5-year Tourism Industry Development Plan recently should see positive policies and supportive measures to be rolled out over the medium term. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fosun-tourism-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27439:1" rel="noopener">Fosun Tourism (1992 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-tourism-group-duty-free-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12278:1" rel="noopener">China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (601888 CH)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-travel-international-investment-hong-kong" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3879:1" rel="noopener">China Travel International Investment (308 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/haichang-ocean-park-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11396:1" rel="noopener">Haichang Ocean Park (2255 HK)</a> are some key beneficiaries.</li>
<li>We believe <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> will benefit from the recovery of international air passenger as the Plan highlights the importance of promoting inbound/outbound tourism after the pandemic.</li>
</ul>


State Council's announcement of China 14th 5-year Tourism Industry Development Plan recently should see positive policies and supportive measures to be rolled out over the medium term. 

Fosun Tourism (1992 HK), China Tourism Group Duty Free Corp Ltd (601888 CH), China Travel International Investment (308 HK) and Haichang Ocean Park (2255 HK) are some key beneficiaries.
We believe Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) will benefit from the recovery of international air passenger as the Plan highlights the importance of promoting inbound/outbound tourism after the pandemic.


Beneficiaries of China's 14th 5-Year Tourism Industry Development Plan

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a></strong> dangles bonuses for pilots and first officers amid Hong Kong's stringent crew quarantine requirements. </li>
<li>Preceding my comments on Cathay - and <strong><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/swire-pacific-ltd-cl-a" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10433:1" rel="noopener">Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)</a></strong>- are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos. </li>
<li>These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.</li>
</ul>



Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) dangles bonuses for pilots and first officers amid Hong Kong's stringent crew quarantine requirements. 
Preceding my comments on Cathay - and Swire Pacific (A) (19 HK)- are the current setup/unwind tables for Asia-Pacific Holdcos. 
These relationships trade with a minimum liquidity of US$1mn, and a % market capitalisation &gt;20%.


StubWorld: Cathay Pacific - Still Grounded

<ul>
<li>Passenger traffic momentum of <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> has picked up in Dec and it also narrowed down it gap against <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>. </li>
<li>The resurgence of international traffic over the next two years with more border openings will provide significant benefits to Air China, helping it to recover its depressed load factors.</li>
<li>Air China outperformed HSCEI by 3.6pp YTD, but we still consider its P/B of 1.0x, or around historical average, not stretched. Strength of Rmb is also a potential positive factor.</li>
</ul>


Passenger traffic momentum of Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) has picked up in Dec and it also narrowed down it gap against China Southern Airlines (1055 HK). 
The resurgence of international traffic over the next two years with more border openings will provide significant benefits to Air China, helping it to recover its depressed load factors.
Air China outperformed HSCEI by 3.6pp YTD, but we still consider its P/B of 1.0x, or around historical average, not stretched. Strength of Rmb is also a potential positive factor.


China

China Southern Airlines Company Limited provides commercial airline services throughout China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.  The Company also provides other airline related services including aircraft maintenance and air catering.

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry. It offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, cargo handling, and other extended transportation services.

Air China Limited provides passenger, cargo, and airline-related services in China.  The Company is primarily based in Beijing and a major hub for domestic and international air transportation.  Air China's airline-related services include aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul service, ground services, and in-flight catering services.

Hainan Airlines Co., Ltd. provides passenger and freight air transportation. The Company also provides charter flight services. 

Spring Airlines Co., Ltd. offers air transportation services. The Company provides domestic air transportation, international air transportation, cargo transportation, and other services. Spring Airlines also offers ticket home delivery, insurance transaction, and other services.

Juneyao Airlines Co. Ltd. supplies air transportation services. The Company provides domestic and international routes for passengers and cargoes. Juneyao Airlines also offers ticket home delivery and electronic ticketing services.

China Express Airlines Co., Ltd. provides air transportation services. The Company offers passenger and freight air transportation, aviation equipment maintenance and aircraft leasing, ticket and hotel booking, consulting, and other services. China Express Airlines serves customers worldwide.

China Express Airlines Co Ltd (002928 CH)

COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd offers marine freight transportation services.  The Company offers container shipping, dry bulk shipping, logistics services, freight forwarding, and terminal and container leasing services internationally.  COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd operates container ships and terminals, and manufactures shipping containers.

S.F. Holding Co., Ltd operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides logistics, order tracking, supply chain management, and warehousing services. S.F. Holding operates worldwide.

Daqin Railway Co., Ltd. mainly provides coal transportation service in Northern China. It also operates passenger transportation business.

Singapore Airlines Limited provides air transportation, engineering, pilot training, air charter, and tour wholesaling services. The Company's airline operation covers Asia, Europe, the Americas, South West Pacific, and Africa.

ANA Holdings Inc provides a variety of air transportation-related services. The Company offers scheduled & unscheduled air passenger services and air courier services. ANA sells aircraft parts and provides travel arrangement & reservation services as well.

United Airlines Holdings Inc is an airline holding company.  The Company owns and operates airlines that transports persons, property and mail throughout the United States and abroad.

Southwest Airlines Co. is a domestic airline that provides primarily short-haul, high-frequency, point-to-point service.  The Company offers flights throughout the United States.

International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. provides transportation services. The Company offers international and domestic air passenger and cargo transportation services. International Consolidated Airlines Group serves customers worldwide.

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG LN)

International Consolidated Airlines Group

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is an airline that provides both domestic and international flight services.  The Company provides passenger and cargo services to destinations in Chile, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and the Pacific.  LATAM Airlines operates passenger aircraft and cargo freighters.

InterGlobe Aviation Limited provides passenger airlines services. The Company offers ground management, air transportation, terminal maintenance, and other services. InterGlobe Aviation conducts its business globally.

Turk Hava Yollari Anonim Ortakligi (THY), also known as Turkish Airlines, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services. The Company serves all domestic destinations as well as the Middle East, North America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and South Africa.

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited operates scheduled airline services. The Company also provides related services, including airline catering, aircraft handling, and engineering.

Qantas Airways Limited provides transportation of passengers through two airlines including Qantas (full service carrier) and Jetstar (low cost carrier), operating international, domestic and regional services. The Company also includes Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Freight which generates diverse revenue streams and adds value for customers and investors.

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Air China Ltd (A) (601111 CH)

China Southern Airlines (1055 HK): A Tough Start

CSA has a tough start for 2022 as reflected in weak Jan load and cargo performance. We see many challenges brewing in this year and expect the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Chinese Airlines: A Tale of Three Loss-Making, but Outperforming, Companies

Chinese airlines have issued profit warnings for FY21 with record losses in the year, and CSA looks to have the weakest QoQ performance in 4Q21. We...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Beneficiaries of China's 14th 5-Year Tourism Industry Development Plan

China's 14th 5-year Tourism Development Plan are positive to many players in the tourism industry. We expect more favourable policies and...

Osbert Tang, CFA

StubWorld: Cathay Pacific - Still Grounded

I can't get excited with Cathay. I tilt bullish on Swire Pac. Around a 50% discount is wide given its tendency to historically trade in the low-to...

David Blennerhassett

Air China (753 HK): Down but Not Out

Air China managed to pick up sequentially on passenger traffic and narrowed down its gap against China Southern in Dec. More international traffic...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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