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>China's outbound tourism recovery started much later than others in the region</li>
<li>In particular, Taiwan &amp; Korea began ramping outbound travel earlier (in Q222)</li>
<li>As destinations, Thailand &amp; Vietnam recovered early, but now lag HK's growth</li>
</ul>


China's outbound tourism recovery started much later than others in the region
In particular, Taiwan &amp; Korea began ramping outbound travel earlier (in Q222)
As destinations, Thailand &amp; Vietnam recovered early, but now lag HK's growth


China's Tourism Recovery Versus Other Major Tourist Sources in Asia: Delayed, Not Slower

<ul>
<li>Chinese outbound and domestic air traffic activity improved sharply Y/Y in the January-February LNY travel period, but activity remains far below pre-Covid levels</li>
<li>Given constrained outbound air capacity, we're surprised to see relatively low (65-66%) passenger load factors reported by the leading Chinese airlines during LNY</li>
<li>If planes don't begin to fill up with Chinese tourists soon, we believe some investors may become disappointed in the pace of China's travel recovery </li>
</ul>


Chinese outbound and domestic air traffic activity improved sharply Y/Y in the January-February LNY travel period, but activity remains far below pre-Covid levels
Given constrained outbound air capacity, we're surprised to see relatively low (65-66%) passenger load factors reported by the leading Chinese airlines during LNY
If planes don't begin to fill up with Chinese tourists soon, we believe some investors may become disappointed in the pace of China's travel recovery 


TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>On Monday evening in the US, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:180:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com (TCOM US)</a> reported Q422 results that beat low expectations, but shares in the US traded down about 3% in Tuesday's session</li>
<li>As for guidance, management offered few specifics but noted a sharp improvement in booking activity early in 2023, but also highlighted an outbound capacity bottleneck at the airlines</li>
<li>Just as Covid's negative impacts papered over the secular challenges facing Trip.com, the dramatic near-term recovery in travel activity also obscures longstanding threats</li>
</ul>


On Monday evening in the US, Trip.com (TCOM US) reported Q422 results that beat low expectations, but shares in the US traded down about 3% in Tuesday's session
As for guidance, management offered few specifics but noted a sharp improvement in booking activity early in 2023, but also highlighted an outbound capacity bottleneck at the airlines
Just as Covid's negative impacts papered over the secular challenges facing Trip.com, the dramatic near-term recovery in travel activity also obscures longstanding threats


Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

<ul>
<li>By many metrics, Chinese airlines' recent performance exceeds pre-Covid levels</li>
<li>Medium-Term, ongoing int'l recovery and benign fuel prices can boost margins</li>
<li>We believe the airlines could recoup weak relative performance vs Trip.com</li>
</ul>


By many metrics, Chinese airlines' recent performance exceeds pre-Covid levels
Medium-Term, ongoing int'l recovery and benign fuel prices can boost margins
We believe the airlines could recoup weak relative performance vs Trip.com


Rebound in Int'l Demand & Benign Fuel Prices Could Support Recovery in Chinese Airlines' Share Perf

China Southern Airlines / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Outbound &amp; domestic travel activity continued to recover nicely in August</li>
<li>Initial reports suggest Mid-Autumn Festival travel activity was solid, too</li>
<li>After recent surge, we've cut Trip.com to HOLD; check out airlines instead</li>
</ul>


Outbound &amp; domestic travel activity continued to recover nicely in August
Initial reports suggest Mid-Autumn Festival travel activity was solid, too
After recent surge, we've cut Trip.com to HOLD; check out airlines instead


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker: Solid Outbound & Domestic Numbers in August | Cut Trip.com to HOLD

Thailand

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is Thailand's national airline providing air transportation, freight and mail services on domestic and international routes including Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and South West Pacific.  The Company is a state enterprise which is controlled by the government and partly owned by the public.

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Thai Airways International (THAI TB)

China's Tourism Recovery Versus Other Major Tourist Sources in Asia: Delayed, Not Slower

In this insight we compare China's progress toward restoring outbound tourism activity to the progress shown by other major tourist sources in the...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Jan-Feb air traffic shows the beginnings of a recovery in Chinese travel activity, but we're surprised to see outbound flights with load factors of...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

As China emerges from Covid, old challenges remain for Trip.com. After posting solid Q422 results and pointing to signs of a strong recovery, these...

Daniel Hellberg

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker: Solid Outbound & Domestic Numbers in August | Cut Trip.com to HOLD

Chinese travel activity in August continued its gradual recovery, and early reports from the recent Mid Autumn Festival suggest activity remained...

Tracking Traffic

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

China's Tourism Recovery Versus Other Major Tourist Sources in Asia: Delayed, Not Slower

In this insight we compare China's progress toward restoring outbound tourism activity to the progress shown by other major tourist sources in the...

Tracking Traffic

TRACKING TRAFFIC/Chinese Tourism: LNY Traffic Points to Slow Recovery in 2023

Jan-Feb air traffic shows the beginnings of a recovery in Chinese travel activity, but we're surprised to see outbound flights with load factors of...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q4/2022 Results: Back to Reality?

As China emerges from Covid, old challenges remain for Trip.com. After posting solid Q422 results and pointing to signs of a strong recovery, these...

Daniel Hellberg

Rebound in Int'l Demand & Benign Fuel Prices Could Support Recovery in Chinese Airlines' Share Perf

We believe improvement in Chinese outbound demand combined with benign fuel prices could lift shares of China's large state-owned airlines,...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker: Solid Outbound & Domestic Numbers in August | Cut Trip.com to HOLD

Chinese travel activity in August continued its gradual recovery, and early reports from the recent Mid Autumn Festival suggest activity remained...

Tracking Traffic