Chinese airlines reported a combined loss of Rmb33.62bn ($4.8bn) in the first quarter as national and global lockdowns hit demand, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The total number of passengers fell 53.9 per cent in the first quarter from the same period a year earlier to 74m, said Xiong Jie, an official with the CAAC. Passenger volumes in March were particularly badly affected, dropping by 71.7 per cent from the same month last year, he added.
A large part of China was in lockdown during the quarter and many countries and regions have imposed travel restrictions on the country to curb the spread of coronavirus.