Springing Into Success: As the Most Profitable Chinese LCC, Shanghai-based Spring Airlines Aims to be the Country's Southwest Airlines

In this article the author discusses China’s Spring Airlines, a low-cost carrier (LCC) modeled after a prominent airline in the U.S. The airline, which was started in July 2005, has seen a steady rise in net profit thanks to an “air travel plus tourism” travel model. Rising revenue can also be contributed to the no-frills business attitude in terms of passenger service and administration, allowing fares to remain about 36% lower than those of other domestic carriers. The article notes the airline’s plans to expand its fleet despite severe pilot shortages, as well as intentions to begin operating in the international arena, an ambition understood to be essential to the airline’s future success. As it looks to new investors, the airline remains optimistic that high fuel costs will not affect China’s LCC market.