China Southern Airlines, Spring Airlines and Hainan Airlines have filed applications with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) seeking to operate services to Japan.
China Southern intends to operate a thrice-weekly Shanghai Pudong-Fukuoka and four-times weekly Shanghai Pudong-Osaka service, starting as early as May.
Hainan Airlines plans to operate a thrice-weekly Beijing-Osaka service from June onwards.
Both carriers will use Boeing 737-800 on the three services, says CAAC.
Meanwhile, Spring Airlines has applied to start four to Nagoya from June, using Airbus A320s. These are thrice-weekly Hefei-Nagoya and Harbin-Nagoya, four-times weekly Hohhot-Shijiazhuang-Nagoya, and daily Shanghai Pudong-Nagoya services, the regulator adds.
FlightMaps Analytics shows Spring will be the only operator on routes from Hefei, Shijiazhuang and Harbin to Nagoya. On the Shanghai Pudong to Fukuoka and Osaka routes, China Southern will compete with Air China and China Eastern Airlines. Hainan Airlines will compete with Air China, China Eastern Airlines and All Nippon Airways on the Beijing-Osaka route.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
