Spring Airlines, nearing 10 million pax p/a, looks to leverage agility and grow where permitted

Spring Airlines is China's only notable (international) low-cost carrier and a successful one at that, having recently taken delivery of its 35th aircraft. One of China's few private carriers, it is still a third the size of the AirAsia or Jetstar Groups, but that is largely a result of Beijing's tight control of fleet growth. No doubt without this restriction Spring would grow even faster.

In 2013, when Spring will carry more than 10 million passengers for the first time, the carrier will look to expand its presence in Hangzhou, 90 minutes west of Shanghai and boasting incomes higher than those in China's financial capital. Spring's expansion announcement was quickly followed by competitors Air China and low-cost Juneyao. While the domestic market remains the staple for Chinese carriers including Spring, Spring has expanded regional routes to Hong Kong, international services and is looking to establish a subsidiary in Japan to accelerate growth.