UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
| REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year
ended December 31 , 2021
OR
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ________to________
OR
| SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report
Commission file
number 001-14660
中国南方航空股份有限公司
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(Address of principal executive offices)
Telephone: +86 20 86112480
E-mail:
Fax: +86 20 86659040
Address: 68 QI XIN ROAD
(Name, Telephone,
E-mail
and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person) Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Ordinary H Shares of par value RMB1.00 per share represented by American Depositary Shares |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None.
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None.
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report
: 12,673,293,179 A Shares of par value RMB1.00 per share and 4,275,144,849 H Shares of par value RMB1.00 per share.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☐ Yes
☒ No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ☐ Yes No
☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation
S-T
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a
non-accelerated
filer or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act. ☒ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ | ||||
Non-accelerated filer |
☐ |
Emerging growth company |
||||
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
† |
The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
| U.S. GAAP ☐ |
by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ |
Other ☐ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. ☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
s 12b-2
of the Exchange Act). ☐ YeNo
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iii
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report includes forward-looking statements for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements appear in a number of different places in this Annual Report. A forward-looking statement is usually identified by the use in this Annual Report of certain terminology such as “estimate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “may”, or their negatives or other comparable words. Also look for discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the outlook for our future operations, forecasts of future costs and expenditures, evaluation of market conditions, the outcome of legal proceedings (if any), the adequacy of reserves, and other business plans. Forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in particular circumstances. We caution you that a number of risks and assumptions could cause actual outcomes to differ, or differ materially, from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.
These risks and assumptions, in addition to those identified under Item 3. “Key Information—Risk Factors,” include:
| • | general economic and business conditions in markets where our Company operates, including changes in interest rates; |
| • | the effects of competition on the demand for and price of our services; |
| • | natural phenomena; |
| • | the impact of unusual events on our business and operations, including COVID-19 and other pandemics, and the effect of governmental actions taken in response; |
| • | actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulations, and changes in CAAC’s regulatory policies; |
| • | our relationship with China Southern Air Holding Company Limited; |
| • | uncertainties associated with potential legal proceedings; |
| • | technological development; |
| • | our ability to attract key personnel and attract new talent; |
| • | future decisions by management in response to changing conditions; |
| • | the Company’s ability to execute prospective business plans; |
| • | the availability of qualified flight personnel and airport facilities; and |
| • | misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. |
Our Company advises you that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify in their entirety all forward-looking statements attributable to our Company, our Group and persons acting on their behalf.
1
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
In this Annual Report, unless the context indicates otherwise, “we”, “us”, “our”, “the Company” and “our Company” refer to China Southern Airlines Company Limited, a joint stock company incorporated in China on March 25, 1995, our “Group” means our Company and our consolidated subsidiaries, and “CSAH” means China Southern Air Holding Company Limited, our Company’s parent company which directly and indirectly held 64.20% interest in our Company as of April 22, 2022
.
References to “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purpose of this Annual Report, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. References to “Renminbi” or “RMB” are to the currency of China, references to “U.S. dollars”, “USD”, “$” or “US$” are to the currency of the United States of America (the “U.S.” or “United States”), and references to “HK$” are to the currency of Hong Kong. References to the “Chinese government” are to the national government of China. References to “Hong Kong” or “Hong Kong SAR” are to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC. References to “Macau” or “Macau SAR” are to the Macau Special Administrative Region of the PRC.
Our Group presents our consolidated financial statements in Renminbi. The consolidated financial statements of our Group have been prepared in accordance with all applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”), which collective term include all applicable individual IFRSs, International Accounting Standards (“IASs”) and Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”).
Solely for the convenience of the readers, this Annual Report contains conversions of certain Renminbi into U.S. dollars at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.3757, which was the average of the buying and selling rates as quoted by the People’s Bank of China at the close of business on December 31, 2021. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts or U.S. dollar amounts included in this Annual Report could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. Any discrepancies in the tables included herein between the amounts listed and the totals are due to rounding.
2
GLOSSARY OF AIRLINE INDUSTRY TERMS
In this Annual Report, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below.
Capacity |
||
| “available seat kilometers” or “ASK” | the number of seats made available for sale multiplied by the kilometers flown | |
| “available ton kilometers” or “ATK” | the tons of capacity available for the transportation of revenue load (passengers and cargo) multiplied by the kilometers flown | |
Traffic |
||
| “revenue passenger kilometers” or “RPK” | i.e. passenger traffic volume, the number of passengers carried multiplied by the kilometers flown | |
| “revenue ton kilometers” or “RTK” | i.e. total traffic volume, the load (passenger and cargo) in tons multiplied by the kilometers flown | |
| “revenue ton kilometers-cargo” or “RFTK” | i.e. cargo and mail traffic volume, the load for cargo and mail in tonnes multiplied by the kilometers flown | |
| “revenue ton kilometers-passenger” | the load for passenger in tons multiplied by the kilometers flown | |
| “ton” | a metric ton, equivalent to 1,000 kilograms | |
Yield |
||
| “yield per RFTK” | revenue from cargo operations divided by RFTK | |
| “yield per RPK” | revenue from passenger operations divided by RPK | |
| “yield per RTK” | revenue from airline operations (passenger and cargo) divided by RTK | |
Cost |
||
| “operating cost per ATK” | operating expenses divided by ATK | |
Load Factors |
||
| “overall load factor” | RTK expressed as a percentage of ATK | |
| “passenger load factor” | RPK expressed as a percentage of ASK | |
Utilization |
||
| “utilization rates” | flight hours that aircraft can service during specified time | |
Equipment |
||
| “expendables” | aircraft parts that are ordinarily used up and replaced with new parts | |
3
| “rotables” | aircraft parts that are ordinarily repaired and reused | |
Others |
||
| “ADS” | American Depositary Share | |
| “A Shares” | Shares issued by our Company to investors in the PRC for subscription in RMB, with par value of RMB1.00 each | |
| “Board” | board of directors of the Company | |
| “CAAC” | Civil Aviation Administration of China | |
| “CAOSC” | China Aviation Oil Supplies Company | |
| “CSAH” | China Southern Air Holding Company Limited | |
| “CSRC” | China Securities Regulatory Commission | |
| “Hong Kong Stock Exchange” | The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited | |
| “Hong Kong Listing Rules” | The Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited | |
| “H Shares” | Shares issued by our Company, listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and subscribed for and traded in Hong Kong dollars, with par value of RMB1.00 each | |
| “Nan Lung” | Nan Lung Holding Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAH) | |
| “NDRC” | National Development and Reform Commission of China | |
| “SAFE” | State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China | |
| “Finance Company” | China Southern Airlines Group Finance Company Limited | |
| “SASAC” | State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council | |
| “SEC” | United States Securities and Exchange Commission | |
| “SPVs” | special purpose vehicles exclusively set up by the Company and its subsidiaries for leased aircraft | |
4
PART I
ITEM 1. |
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS |
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. |
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE |
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. |
KEY INFORMATION |
A. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables present selected financial data for the five-year period ended December 31, 2021. The selected consolidated income statement data (other than ADS data) for the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of us, included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The selected consolidated income statement data (other than ADS data) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Annual Report.
Moreover, the selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the rest of the Annual Report, including our audited consolidated financial statements together with accompanying notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRSs.
We have initially applied IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018. According to the adopted transition plan, the comparative data has not been restated.
Year ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 US$ |
2021 RMB |
2020 RMB |
2019 RMB |
2018 RMB |
2017 RMB |
|||||||||||||||||||
(in million, except per share and per ADS data) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Income Statement Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating revenue |
15,942 | 101,644 | 92,561 | 154,322 | 143,623 | 127,806 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses |
(18,247 | ) | (116,340 | ) | (109,111 | ) | (148,608 | ) | (140,242 | ) | (123,098 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Operating (loss)/profit |
(1,557 | ) | (9,929 | ) | (11,864 | ) | 10,838 | 8,819 | 9,156 | |||||||||||||||
| (Loss)/profit before income tax |
(2,182 | ) | (13,910 | ) | (15,195 | ) | 4,055 | 4,364 | 8,874 | |||||||||||||||
| (Loss)/profit for the year |
(1,728 | ) | (11,016 | ) | (11,827 | ) | 3,084 | 3,364 | 6,898 | |||||||||||||||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity shareholders of our Company |
(1,899 | ) | (12,106 | ) | (10,847 | ) | 2,640 | 2,895 | 5,961 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests |
171 | 1,090 | (980 | ) | 444 | 469 | 937 | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share |
(0.12 | ) | (0.75 | ) | (0.77 | ) | 0.22 | 0.27 | 0.60 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per ADS (1) |
(5.86 | ) | (37.36 | ) | (38.58 | ) | 10.76 | 13.50 | 30.03 | |||||||||||||||
| Other Financial Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends declared per share |
— | — | — | — | 0.05 | 0.10 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Basic and diluted earnings per share have been computed by dividing profit attributable to our equity shareholders by the weighted average number of shares in issue. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS have been computed as if all of our issued or potential ordinary shares, including A shares and H shares, are represented by ADSs during each of the years presented. Each ADS represents 50 H shares. |
5
As of December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 US$ |
2021 RMB |
2020 RMB |
2019 RMB |
2018 RMB |
2017 RMB |
|||||||||||||||||||
(in million, except per share and per ADS data) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
3,365 | 21,456 | 25,419 | 1,849 | 6,928 | 6,826 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total current assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents |
2,574 | 16,410 | 13,566 | 14,889 | 17,144 | 11,058 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net |
14,302 | 91,186 | 86,146 | 84,788 | 170,692 | 158,926 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Right-of-use |
21,714 | 138,439 | 151,065 | 153,211 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets |
50,694 | 323,211 | 326,383 | 306,928 | 246,949 | 218,718 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current borrowings |
9,083 | 57,913 | 40,099 | 37,543 | 38,741 | 27,568 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current portion of obligations under finance leases |
— | — | — | — | 9,555 | 8,341 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-current borrowings |
6,016 | 38,354 | 38,134 | 13,637 | 15,676 | 20,719 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Obligations under finance leases, excluding current portion |
— | — | — | — | 62,666 | 59,583 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lease liabilities |
16,116 | 102,749 | 121,213 | 134,074 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total equity |
13,255 | 84,508 | 85,131 | 77,329 | 78,469 | 62,543 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares (in million) |
16,948 | 16,948 | 15,329 | 12,267 | 12,267 | 10,088 | ||||||||||||||||||
6
Selected Operating Data
The operating data and comparison below is calculated and disclosed in accordance with the statistical standards, which have been implemented by our Group since January 1, 2001. See “Glossary of Airline Industry Terms” at the front of this Annual Report for definitions of certain terms used herein.
Year ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
||||||||||||||||
| Capacity |
||||||||||||||||||||
| ASK (million) |
213,922 | 214,722 | 344,062 | 314,421 | 280,646 | |||||||||||||||
| ATK (million) |
33,518 | 33,892 | 46,434 | 42,728 | 38,332 | |||||||||||||||
| Kilometers flown (thousand) |
1,317,850 | 1,304,667 | 1,875,520 | 1,762,920 | 1,623,014 | |||||||||||||||
| Hours flown (thousand) |
2,110 | 2,077 | 2,951 | 2,773 | 2,567 | |||||||||||||||
| Number of landing and take-offs |
843,320 | 822,459 | 1,117,880 | 1,069,430 | 1,010,460 | |||||||||||||||
| Traffic |
||||||||||||||||||||
| RPK (million) |
152,426 | 153,440 | 284,921 | 259,194 | 230,697 | |||||||||||||||
| RTK (million) |
21,209 | 20,805 | 32,625 | 30,334 | 27,321 | |||||||||||||||
| Passengers carried (thousand) |
98,505 | 96,856 | 151,632 | 139,885 | 126,299 | |||||||||||||||
| Cargo and mail carried (tons) |
1,141,950 | 1,460,825 | 1,763,560 | 1,732,280 | 1,672,162 | |||||||||||||||
| Load Factors |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger load factor (RPK/ASK) (%) |
71.3 | 71.5 | 82.8 | 82.4 | 82.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Overall load factor (RTK/ATK) (%) |
63.3 | 61.4 | 70.3 | 71.0 | 71.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Yield |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Yield per RPK (RMB) |
0.49 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.49 | |||||||||||||||
| Yield per RFTK (RMB) |
2.58 | 2.27 | 1.27 | 1.33 | 1.30 | |||||||||||||||
| Yield per RTK (RMB) |
4.49 | 4.18 | 4.54 | 4.55 | 4.46 | |||||||||||||||
| Fleet |
||||||||||||||||||||
| - Boeing |
469 | 469 | 467 | 460 | 407 | |||||||||||||||
| - Airbus |
391 | 383 | 375 | 354 | 321 | |||||||||||||||
| - Others |
18 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 26 | |||||||||||||||
| Total aircraft in service at period end |
878 | 867 | 862 | 840 | 754 | |||||||||||||||
| Average daily utilization rate (hours per day) |
6.96 | 7.02 | 9.96 | 9.73 | 9.79 | |||||||||||||||
B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not applicable.
C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
D. RISK FACTORS
Summary of Risk Factors
Below please find a summary of the principal risks we face, organized under relevant headings.
Risks Relating to our Business
| • | The outbreak and global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a material adverse effect on our business. The duration and severity of the pandemic, and similar public health threats or a large scale natural disaster we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business. |
| • | We are indirectly majority owned by the Chinese government, which may exert influence in a manner that may conflict with the interests of holders of ADSs, H Shares and A Shares. |
7
| • | Any disruption of the provision of services by CSAH or its affiliates could affect our operations and financial condition. |
| • | Due to a high degree of operating leverage and high fixed costs, a decrease in our revenue could result in a disproportionately higher decrease in our profit. |
| • | The results of our operations are also significantly exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. |
| • | We have significant committed capital expenditures in the next three years, and may face challenges and difficulties in maintaining our liquidity. |
| • | Unfavorable economic conditions, in China and globally, could affect the demand for air travel. |
| • | Lack of adequate documentation for land use rights and ownership of buildings may subject us to challenges and claims by third parties. |
| • | Any discontinuity or disruption in the direct flight arrangement between Mainland China and Taiwan may negatively affect our results of operations. |
| • | The travel industry continues to face on-going security concerns and cost burdens. |
| • | We may suffer losses in the event of an accident involving our aircraft or the aircraft of any other airline. |
| • | The mandatory grounding of our Boeing 737 Max fleet may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. |
| • | We are subject to stringent laws and contractual obligations related to data privacy and cybersecurity, and we may be exposed to risks related to our management of personal information and other data. |
| • | Evolving data security and cybersecurity requirements could increase our costs, and any significant data security incident could disrupt our operations, harm our reputation, expose us to legal risks and otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. |
| • | We may be unable to retain our senior management team or other key employees. |
| • | Our results of operations may be negatively impacted by any jet fuel shortages or any fluctuation in domestic prices for jet fuel. |
| • | Our profit for the year may suffer from unexpected volatility caused by any fluctuation in the level of fuel surcharges. |
Risks Relating to the Chinese Commercial Aviation Industry
| • | Our business is subject to extensive government regulations. |
| • | Our results of operations tend to be volatile and fluctuate due to seasonality. |
| • | Our operations may be adversely affected by insufficient aviation infrastructure in the Chinese commercial aviation industry. |
| • | We face increasingly intense competition in both domestic and international markets. |
| • | We expect to face substantial competition from alternative means of transportation, especially as a result of the rapid development of the Chinese rail network. |
| • | Limitations on foreign ownership of Chinese airlines may affect our access to funding in the international equity capital markets. |
| • | The commercial aviation industry is subject to risks associated with climate change, including the increasingly stringent environmental regulation to protest against emissions. Failure to comply with existing or future environmental regulations or to otherwise manage the risks of climate change effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business. |
| • | We may utilize fuel hedging arrangements which may result in losses. |
Risks Relating to the PRC
| • | We have significant exposure to foreign currency risk as part of our lease liabilities are denominated in foreign currencies. Due to rigid foreign exchange control by Chinese government, we may face difficulties in obtaining sufficient foreign exchange to pay dividends or satisfy our foreign exchange liabilities. |
8
| • | Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system may cause significant uncertainties to our operations. |
| • | Any actions by the Chinese government may cause us to make material changes to our operations and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. |
| • | The enactment of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act may result in enhanced disclosure requirements for us and our delisting from the NYSE and deregistration from the SEC. |
Risks Relating to our Business
The outbreak and global spread of the
COVID-19
pandemic have had a material adverse effect on our business. The duration and severity of the pandemic, and similar public health threats or a large scale natural disaster we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business. An outbreak of a disease, a similar public health threat or a large-scale natural disaster that affects travel demand, travel behavior, or travel restrictions, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results. Beginning from 2020, the outbreak and rapid spread of
COVID-19
in China and worldwide, the persistence of the resulting pandemic, as well as the measures governments and private parties implemented to stem the spread of this pandemic, have had, and will continue to have, a material adverse effect on the demand for air travel in China and worldwide and consequently on our business, results of operations and financial condition. | • | The demand in air travel has decreased and may remain depressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken by governments around the world to contain the pandemic. |
Following the onset of the
COVID-19
pandemic in China in January 2020, the central and local governments of China implemented strict traveling restrictions, quarantines and advisories and “stay at home” orders which dissuaded or restricted air travel. During the first quarter and early second quarter of 2020, a significant number of employees in public and private sectors in China were instructed or advised to work from home and/or were otherwise dissuaded or restricted from air travel. Business conventions and conferences, concerts and similar entertainment events were cancelled, and many popular tourist destinations were closed. As a result, the demand for domestic air travel declined at a rapid pace in China, which is our primary market. Although, as of the date of this Annual Report, the travel and business restrictions imposed in China have largely been lifted, there has been an increasing number of Omicron variant cases in some regions, and the Chinese government has imposed restrictions in these regions. Such restrictions, or if the pandemic were to worsen, leading to restrictions being imposed in other regions, may continue to depress the demand in air travel in China. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared Due to these measures, the international travel demand reduced significantly from the second quarter of 2020 and remained depressed, which in turn had a significant adverse impact on our international route business. As a result of such reduced demand of domestic and international air travel, our revenues, results of operations and financial condition in both 2020 and 2021 were materially adversely affected.
COVID-19
as a global pandemic, and governments around the world started implementing various measures, including enhanced screenings, vaccination requirements, quarantine requirements, travel restrictions and border controls, in connection with the COVID-19
pandemic. On March 26, 2020, the CAAC placed restrictions on international flights from and to China and limited the number of international routes and flights each airline in China could operate. Governments of many countries that are markets for our business placed similar restrictions, some of which are still effective as of the date of this Annual Report.9
The Group’s RTK for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by 1.94% as compared to 2020. In 2021, total passenger capacity (measured by ASK) and RPK of the Company decreased by 0.37% and 0.66%, respectively, as compared to 2020. Passenger capacity and RPK for international routes decreased by 60.36% and 69%, respectively, as compared to 2020. Revenue per seat kilometer reduced. As a result, the Company recorded a loss in the operating results for the year of 2021.
| • | The mitigation measures we implemented or may consider in the future in response to the pandemic may have negative consequences with respect to our business and operations. |
In response to the adverse changes in operational environment caused by the outbreak and duration of the
COVID-19
pandemic, we have taken steps to mitigate the effects on our business, which themselves may have negative consequences with respect to our business and operations. Beginning in 2020, we implemented various measures to adjust our operational capacity, which included negotiating with aircraft manufacturers to explore the possibility of postponing the delivery of new aircraft, seizing market opportunities to adopt various measures to increase passenger and freight revenue, strengthening our cost control and actively seeking policy support from the government. In addition, we intensified our efforts to fully implement precautionary measures, including conducting in-flight
checks of passengers’ body temperature and disinfection of aircraft, in accordance with rules and guidelines issued by relevant government authorities, in order to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19
through flights, contact points and passengers. Those precautionary measures increased our operational cost. Furthermore, we have waived air travel booking change fees and cancellation fees chargeable to customers to a broad extent in accordance with government requirements, which have negatively affected our revenues. The mitigation and cost-saving measures that we implemented in 2020 and 2021, or may consider in the future, have not made up, and may not in the future make up for our revenue loss as a result of the decreased ticket sales due to the pandemic.| • | The overall situation of the pandemic remains fluid and it is difficult to predict the duration and development of the pandemic as well as other potential impact it may have on our business. |
Since the second quarter of 2020, certain of the above-mentioned travel restrictions were eased in some places, especially in China. However, the ongoing pandemic, including resurgences of
COVID-19
in various regions and the appearance of new variants of the virus, has resulted, and may continue to result, in the reinstitution of the restrictions that were eased. During the reporting period, the pandemic has not been effectively controlled, and the pandemic has spread sporadically in many places of China. The demand for air travel has remained relatively low, and the recovery of the passenger transport market is sluggish. At this time, we are not able to predict the exact timing and pace of the recovery of the demand for air travel, as it is uncertain how long conditions related to the pandemic will persist, when effective vaccines will be broadly available and vaccination will be widespread globally, when travel advisories and restrictions will be completely lifted, what additional measures may be introduced by governments or private parties and what effect any such additional measures may have on air travel and our business. The overall situation remains fluid, and it is impossible to predict the timing of future material developments and whether they will occur in the near, medium or long term. Depending on the duration of the pandemic, such negative developments may occur over the entirety of the pandemic. 10
It is also uncertain the extent to which the
COVID-19
pandemic may result in permanent changes to our customers’ behavior and perception of travel, including a permanent reduction in business travel as a result of increased usage of “virtual” meetings and “teleconferencing” products and more broadly, a general reluctance to travel due to the precautionary measures implemented for air traveling, such as body temperature checking, face covering and quarantine requirements. The widespread consumer confidence in air travel may not return until large-scale vaccination has occurred, and a change in customer’s behavior and perception of travel as mentioned above could have a material impact on our business. As discussed above, the extent of the impact of the
COVID-19
pandemic on our operational and financial performance will depend on future developments which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. In addition, an outbreak of another disease or similar public health threat that affects travel demand, travel behavior or travel restrictions could result in additional adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.We are indirectly majority owned by the Chinese government, which may exert influence in a manner that may conflict with the interests of holders of ADSs, H Shares and A Shares.
CSAH, an entity wholly-owned by the Chinese government, directly and indirectly held and exercised the rights of ownership of 64.20% of our equity stake as of April 22, 2022. The ownership interest of the Chinese government in us and in other Chinese airlines could conflict with the interests of the holders of the ADSs, H Shares and A Shares. The public policy considerations of the Chinese government in regulating the Chinese commercial aviation industry could also conflict with its indirect ownership interest in us. In addition, subject to the approval of our shareholder, we may accept further capital injections from CSAH through
non-public
subscriptions from time to time to fulfill capital needs in our business operation or business development, which may dilute the stakes of other holders of ADSs, H Shares and A Shares. On June 18, 2021, CSAH fully converted the A Share convertible bonds held by it into A Shares. After this share conversion, CSAH’s interest in our Company, held directly or indirectly through Nan Lung, has been increased from 60.42% to 64.20%. CSAH will continue to be our controlling shareholder, and our interests may conflict with those of CSAH. CSAH and certain of its affiliates will continue to provide certain important services to our Group. Any disruption of the provision of services by CSAH or its affiliates could affect our operations and financial condition.
CSAH will continue to be our controlling shareholder. CSAH and certain of its affiliates will continue to provide certain important services to us, including advertising services, property management services, leasing of properties and aircraft and financial services. The interests of CSAH may conflict with those of our Group. In addition, any disruption of the provision of services by CSAH’s affiliates or a default of CSAH on its obligations owed to our Group could affect our operations and financial condition. In particular, as part of our cash management system, subject to the approval of our independent shareholders (being shareholders other than CSAH or an affiliate of CSAH), we periodically place a certain amount of demand deposits with Finance Company, a PRC authorized financial institution controlled by CSAH. We have taken certain measures to monitor the fund flows between us and Finance Company and the placement of funds by Finance Company. Such monitoring measures may help to keep our deposits with Finance Company safe. In addition, we have received a letter of undertakings from CSAH dated March 31, 2009, in which, among other things, CSAH warranted that our deposits and loans with Finance Company were secure and that Finance Company would continue to operate in strict compliance with the relevant rules and regulations. However, the deposits may be exposed to risks associated with Finance Company’s business over which we do not have control. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, we had deposits of RMB9,092 million and RMB12,621 million, respectively, with Finance Company.
Due to a high degree of operating leverage and high fixed costs, a decrease in our revenue could result in a disproportionately higher decrease in our profit.
The airline industry is generally characterized by a high degree of operating leverage. In addition, due to high fixed costs, the expenses relating to the operation of any flight do not vary proportionately with the number of passengers carried, while revenue generated from a flight are directly related to the number of passengers carried and the fare structure of such flight. Accordingly, a decrease in revenue could result in a disproportionately higher decrease in our profit.
The results of our operations are also significantly exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
As we have substantial liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, our results of operations are significantly affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, particularly fluctuations in the Renminbi-U.S. dollar exchange rate. A net exchange gain of RMB 1,575 million was recorded in 2021, as compared with a net exchange gain of RMB3,485 million in 2020. The net exchange gain in 2021 was primarily attributable to the exchange difference arising from the translation of lease liabilities denominated in USD resulting from the appreciation of RMB against USD.
11
We have significant committed capital expenditures in the next three years, and may face challenges and difficulties in maintaining our liquidity.
We have, and will continue to have a substantial amount of debt, lease and other liabilities in the future. As of December 31, 2021, our current liabilities exceeded our current assets by RMB73,124 million. We generated net cash inflow from operating activities of RMB2,698 million and RMB7,688 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. However, our substantial indebtedness and other liabilities may negatively impact our liquidity in the future. In addition, we have significant committed capital expenditures in the next three years, mainly due to aircraft acquisition. In 2021 and thereafter, our liquidity is primarily dependent on our ability to maintain adequate cash inflow from operations to meet our debt obligations as they fall due, and our ability to obtain adequate external financing to meet our committed future capital expenditures. If our operating cash flow is materially and adversely affected by factors, such as increased competition, significantly reduced demand for our services, or significantly increased jet fuel prices, our liquidity would be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, we may not be able to meet our debt obligations as they fall due and commit further capital expenditures if certain assumptions about the availability of external financing on acceptable terms are inaccurate. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing for our capital requirements, our liquidity and operations would be materially and adversely affected.
As of December 31, 2021, we had committed banking facilities with several PRC commercial banks and other financial institute for providing loan financing up to approximately RMB295,683 million, of which approximately RMB204,051 million was unutilized. Our directors believe that sufficient financing will be available to our Group when needed. However there can be no assurance that such loan financing will be available on terms acceptable to our Group or at all
.
Further, our US dollar-denominated lease liabilities mainly bear interest at fluctuating interest rates, primarily based on the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR). LIBOR tends to fluctuate based on general short-term interest rates, rates set by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks, the supply of and demand for credit in the London interbank market and general economic conditions. We have entered into interest rate swaps to mitigate our interest rate risk. We also had entered into cross currency swaps previously, which were all terminated in 2021. However, our interest expense for any particular period may still fluctuate based on LIBOR and other variable interest rates. To the extent the interest rates applicable to our floating rate debt significantly increase, our interest expense may increase, in which event we may have difficulties making interest payments and funding our other fixed costs, and our available cash flow for general corporate requirements may be adversely affected.
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that regulates the process of establishing LIBOR), or FCA, announced that the sustainability of LIBOR cannot be guaranteed. The ICE Benchmark Administration (the current administrator of LIBOR), or IBA, announced on March 5, 2021 that it will permanently cease to publish most LIBOR settings beginning on January 1, 2022 and cease to publish the overnight, one-month, three-month, six-month and 12-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on July 1, 2023. Accordingly, the FCA has stated that it does not intend to persuade or compel banks to submit to LIBOR after such respective dates. Until such time, however, FCA panel banks have agreed to continue to support LIBOR.
Significant recommendations as to alternative rates and as to protocols have been advanced, and continue to be advanced, by various regulators and market participants, including the Alternative Reference Rates Committee of the United States Federal Reserve (“ARRC”), the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”), the FCA and the U.S. Congress, and legislative action by the State of New York, but there can be no assurance that the various recommendations or legislative action will be effective at preventing or mitigating disruption as a result of the transition. In particular, for U.S. dollar LIBOR, the ARRC has selected the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as its preferred replacement benchmark and has formally recommended, in limited cases, a term rate based on SOFR; both ARRC and ISDA have taken significant steps toward implementing various fallback provisions and protocols. However, the market transition away from LIBOR to alternative reference rates, including SOFR, is complex and could result in disruptions, among other things, due to differences between LIBOR (an unsecured forward-looking term rate) and alternative rates that are based on historical measures of overnight secured rates; due to failure of market participants to fully accept such alternative rates; or due to difficulties in amending legacy LIBOR contracts or implementing processes for determining new alternative rates.
SOFR is a broad Treasury repo financing rate that represents overnight secured funding transactions and is not the economic equivalent of U.S. dollar LIBOR. While SOFR is a secured rate, U.S. dollar LIBOR is an unsecured rate. And, while SOFR is currently only an overnight rate, U.S. dollar LIBOR is a forward-looking rate that represents interbank funding for a specified term. As a result, there can be no assurance that SOFR will perform in the same way as U.S. dollar LIBOR would have at any time, including, without limitation, as a result of changes in interest and yield rates in the market, bank credit risk, market volatility or global or regional economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other events. For the same reasons, SOFR is not expected to be a comparable replacement for U.S. dollar LIBOR.
On August 16, 2019, the People’s Bank of China announced a plan to improve and reform the loan prime rate (LPR) mechanism, which requires banks to adopt interest rates based on the LPR for the newly issued loans from the date of the announcement. In December 2019, the People’s Bank of China issued another announcement which requires that, starting from March 1, 2020, financial institutions should negotiate with their clients who have outstanding floating interest rate loans to replace the existing interest rates of such loans which are based on the benchmark lending rates to interest rates based on the LPRs. Such negotiation and replacement is required to be completed before August 31, 2020. While the intention of such plan is to reduce borrowing costs by better reflecting market changes on interest rates, it is not possible to predict the effect of these changes, other reforms or the establishment of alternative reference rates in the PRC, the United States or elsewhere. The discontinuance of LIBOR may result in uncertainty or differences in the calculation of the applicable interest rate or payment amount on certain assets or liabilities we hold whose value is tied to LIBOR, and adversely affect their value. Further, any uncertainty regarding the continued use and reliability of LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate could adversely affect the value of such assets or liabilities. See also the discussion of interest rate risk in Part I, Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk –“Interest Rate Risk.”
12
Unfavorable economic conditions, in China and globally, could affect the demand for air travel.
Our business and results of operations are affected by general factors affecting the industry that we operate in. Such general factors include, but are not limited to, China’s overall economic growth, changing government policies and the demand for air travel. In addition, the airline industry is highly cyclical, and the level of demand for air travel is affected by the global and domestic economic conditions. The Chinese economy has slowed in recent years compared to the previous decade, and this trend is likely to continue. In particular, the outbreak of the
COVID-19
pandemic in January 2020 and its continuing duration has adversely affected the economic conditions in China and globally and disrupted air travel. We expect such adverse impact to continue in 2022. See “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors – The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19
and the persistence of the resulting pandemic have had a material adverse effect on our business. The duration and severity of the pandemic, and similar public health threats or a large scale natural disaster we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business”. During periods of unfavorable or volatile economic conditions, demand for air travel can be impacted as business and leisure travelers choose not to travel, seek alternative forms of transportation for short trips or conduct business through videoconferencing. Long-term unfavorable economic conditions would reduce the demand of air travel and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Chinese macroeconomic controls, such as financing adjustments, credit adjustments, taxation policies, price controls and exchange rate policies would also present unexpected changes to the aviation industry, which may in turn adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The global macroeconomic environment is also facing challenges. The outbreak of
COVID-19
pandemic in 2020, which is still on going, has had an adverse impact on global economic growth. In 2021, the pandemic continued to evolve and spread, with a rapid increase in infections of the new variants including Omicron variant around the world including in China, which continued to affect the global economy. If the global macroeconomic environment worsens, or trade disputes and conflicts continue, the demand of international travel may decrease, and our operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, the exit of the United Kingdom, or UK, from the Europe Union, or EU, brings uncertainties to the regional economy of Europe and the airline businesses in UK and Europe. UK formally withdrew from the EU on January 31, 2020, and the transition period ended on December 31, 2020. On December 24, 2020, UK and EU agreed on the
EU-UK
Trade and Cooperation Agreement, or the TCA, which has been effective from January 1, 2021 and covers a broad range of subjects, including air transport and aviation safety. As of the date of this Annual Report, because the existing bilateral air service agreement between UK and China governing the traffic rights continues to apply, the implementation of the TCA had not had a material impact on our business, but the long term impact of the TCA remains unclear. We cannot guarantee that the exit of the UK from EU will not have a negative impact on our operations, financial condition and results of operations in the future. Lack of adequate documentation for land use rights and ownership of buildings may subject us to challenges and claims by third parties.
Although China has established a system for registration and transfer of land use rights and real property related rights, some of those rights cannot be registered in such system due to historical reasons. We lease certain properties and buildings, which are located in Guangzhou, Wuhan, Haikou and other PRC cities from CSAH. However, CSAH lacks adequate documentation evidencing CSAH’s rights to such land and buildings, and, consequently, the lease agreements between CSAH and us for such land have not been registered with the relevant authorities. As a result, such lease agreements may not be enforceable against a third party. Lack of adequate documentation for land use rights and ownership of buildings may subject us to challenges and claims by third parties with respect to our use of such land and buildings.
13
As of the date of this Annual Report, we had occupied all of the land and buildings mentioned above without any challenge or claim by third parties. However, we cannot assure that we would not be subject to any challenges in the future. If any challenges to the property ownership or other claims are successful, our operation and business may be materially and adversely affected. CSAH has agreed to indemnify us against any loss or damage caused by or arising from any challenge of, or interference with, our right to use such land and buildings.
Any discontinuity or disruption in the direct flight arrangement between Mainland China and Taiwan may negatively affect our results of operations.
The restrictions on direct flights between Mainland China and Taiwan have been loosened since 2008, but there have been no further negotiations on the expansion of such arrangement between Mainland China and Taiwan since
mid-2016.
We were the first Chinese carrier to operate non-stop
flights between Mainland China and Taiwan and have benefited from the operation of such flights. However, given the cross-Strait flight arrangement is subject to the political relationship between Mainland China and Taiwan, any deterioration in such political relationship may cause the discontinuity or disruption in the flight arrangement or reduce the demand for air travel generally, and lead to a material adverse impact on our results of operations. Furthermore, the travel restrictions and restrictions on regional flights issued by Mainland China and Taiwan to control the spread of the
COVID-19
pandemic also resulted in a decrease of the number of cross-Strait direct passenger flights per week, from 28 as of December 31, 2019 to seven as of December 31, 2020 and seven as of December 31, 2021. If the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic continues, the direct flight arrangement between Mainland China and Taiwan could be materially and adversely affected. Terrorist attacks or the fear of such attacks, even if not made directly on the airline industry, could adversely affect us and the airline industry. The travel industry continues to face
on-going
security concerns and cost burdens. The aviation industry has been beset with high-profile terrorist attacks, most notably the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 in the United States. Terrorist attacks could also affect the aviation industry in China. Airlines in China have experienced several incidents of terrorist attacks or threats. For example, on March 7, 2008, on a China Southern Airlines flight boarding in Urumqi, crew members discovered a terrorist suspect. On July 14, 2010, a passenger jet en route from Urumqi to Guangzhou was forced to make an emergency landing after receiving an anonymous call claiming there was a bomb on the aircraft. On June 29, 2012, there was an attempted hijacking on a passenger flight operated by Tianjin Airlines between Hotan and Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang region. CAAC has enhanced security measures to prevent potential threats of terrorist attacks. Terrorist attacks, even if not made on or targeted directly at the airline industry, or the fear of or the precautions taken in anticipation of such attacks (including elevated threat warnings, travel restrictions, or selective cancellation or redirection of flights), could materially and adversely affect us and the aviation industry. Terrorist attacks may result in substantial flight disruption costs caused by grounding of fleet, a significant increase in security costs and associated passenger inconvenience, increased insurance costs, substantially higher ticket refunds and a significant decrease in traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers. Additionally, increasingly strict security measures may cause inconvenience to passengers. These factors can have an uncertain impact on the development of the aviation industry and our business.
We may suffer losses in the event of an accident involving our aircraft or the aircraft of any other airline.
An accident involving an aircraft that we operate could expose us to additional repair or replacement expenses, temporary or permanent losses from the disruption of services and significant tort liabilities. Although we believe that we currently maintain liability insurance in amounts and of the types generally consistent with industry practice, the amounts of such coverage may not be adequate to fully cover the costs related to the accident or incident, which could result in a material adverse affect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, such an aircraft accident could create a public perception that our operations are not as safe or reliable as those of other airlines, which could harm our competitive position and cause a decrease in our operating revenue. Moreover, a major accident involving the aircraft of any of our competitors may adversely affect the public perception generally of the airline industry, reduce demand for air travel and/or lead to further regulation and costs imposed on the airline industry generally , which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
14
The mandatory grounding of our Boeing 737 Max fleet may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
On March 11, 2019, the CAAC issued the notice “CAAC Requesting Domestic Transportation Airlines to Suspend the Commercial Operation of the Boeing
737-8
Aircraft”, requiring domestic airlines to suspend the commercial operations of the Boeing 737-8
Aircraft, which is one of the models of Boeing 737 Max series aircraft. On March 13, 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States issued an emergency order prohibiting the operation of Boeing 737 Max series aircraft by U.S. certificated operators. By late March 2019, all 737 Max aircraft were grounded worldwide. As of December 31, 2021, we owned 34 Boeing 737 Max aircraft and had suspended their commercial operations in accordance with the requirements of the CAAC. As of the date of this Annual Report, the grounding of Boeing 737 Max fleet was lifted in several countries, including the U.S., EU, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. In December 2021, CAAC put forward instructions regarding the Boeing 737 Max aircraft that will help pave the way for the Boeing 737 Max’s return to service in China. We have incurred costs in connection with the grounding of our Boeing 737 Max fleet, as well as experienced delayed deliveries of 737 Max aircraft but the long-term operational and financial impact of this grounding is uncertain and could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition depending on a number of factors, including, among others, the period of time of unavailability, the availability of replacement aircraft, to the extent needed, and the circumstances of any reintroduction of the grounded aircraft to service. In 2021, based on further negotiation between two parties, Boeing Company agreed to provide considerations in connection with the disruption of our Boeing 737 Max fleet. However, as of the date of this Annual Report, it remains uncertain whether such considerations can be fully provided by Boeing Company. If we are not able to pass on the costs or recover the losses incurred in connection with the grounding of Boeing 737 Max fleet, our financial condition and our results of operations may be negatively affected.
We are subject to stringent laws and contractual obligations related to data privacy and cybersecurity, and we may be exposed to risks related to our management of personal information and other data.
The regulatory environment in China and elsewhere as it relates to the collection, use, transfer, and other processing of data, “important data,” and personal data and other types of information is rapidly evolving and is likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. Regulatory authorities in China have implemented a number of new laws and administrative measures that could impose significant obligations on us, adversely impact our operations or impede our ability to transfer or share information with foreign regulators and others inside and outside of China. For more information on such laws and measures, see “— Chinese Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Laws.”
We routinely receive, collect, store, process, transmit and maintain personal information along with other sensitive data. We may also receive, store, process, generate, control, or otherwise have access to “important data” in our businesses. As such, we are subject to the relevant PRC data security, cyber-security, and personal data protection privacy laws, regulations, and standards that apply to the collection, generation, use, retention, protection, disclosure, transfer and other processing of personal information and “important data”. Based on the size of our company, the industry sectors in which we operate, and the fact that we are also listed abroad, we expect to be subject to heightened scrutiny and obligations with regard to cybersecurity, data security, and the protection of personal information once all the relevant regulations and rules have been promulgated. We are also subject to contractual obligations regarding the processing of personal information. Legal requirements regarding data protection and privacy continue to evolve and may result in ever-increasing public scrutiny and escalating levels of enforcement and sanctions and increased costs of compliance.
Failure to comply with any of these laws could result in enforcement action against us, including investigations, civil, administrative, and criminal enforcement action, fines, administrative penalties, imprisonment of company officers and public censure, claims for damages by customers and other affected individuals, damage to our reputation and loss of goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
15
We have established procedures to protect the confidentiality of the personal information and “important data” we receive, store, process, generate, or otherwise have access to or control over. While we have adopted security policies and measures to protect our proprietary data, important data, and data subjects’ privacy, personal information or important information could be subject to leaks caused by hacking activities, human error, employee misconduct or negligence or system breakdown. We also cooperate with third parties including collaboration partners, airports, ground service agents, aviation sales agents and other third-party contractors and consultants for our operations. Any leakage or abuse of personal data or important data by our third-party partners may be perceived by relevant regulators or the data subjects to have resulted from a failure by us. Furthermore, any change in applicable laws and regulations or the enforcement thereof could affect our ability to use data we process as part of our operations and subject us to liability for the use of such data for previously permitted purposes. Any failure or perceived failure by us to prevent information security breaches or to comply with privacy policies or privacy-related legal obligations, or any compromise of information security that results in the unauthorized release or transfer of personally identifiable information, important data, or other data, could cause our customers or regulators to lose trust in us and could expose us to legal claims or other sanctions. See “- Evolving data security and privacy cybersecurity requirements could increase our costs, and any significant data security incident could disrupt our operations, harm our reputation, expose us to legal risks and otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.”
In addition to the restrictions on the ability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of audit work performed in China including the work of our auditor (see “— Our investors in the U.S. who rely on our auditor’s audit reports currently do not have the benefit of PCAOB oversight”), the DSL and PIPL contain provisions restricting our ability to share personal, important, and other information with foreign regulatory or judicial authorities. These provisions could affect our ability to respond to requests or demands for information from such authorities, including the border control authorities of the country of destination, the SEC, or in judicial proceedings.
Evolving data security and cybersecurity requirements could increase our costs, and any significant data security incident could disrupt our operations, harm our reputation, expose us to legal risks and otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business requires the secure processing and storage of sensitive information relating to our customers, employees, business partners and others. However, like any global enterprise operating in today’s digital business environment, we are subject to threats to the security of our networks and data, including threats potentially involving criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored actors, corporate espionage, employee malfeasance, and human or technological error. These threats continue to increase as the frequency, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions increase around the world, and the increase in work-from-home arrangements in general since the onset of the
COVID-19
pandemic may also increase these risks. We were the target of cybersecurity attacks in the past and expect that we will continue to be in the future. A significant cybersecurity incident could result in a range of potentially material negative consequences for us, including unauthorized access to, disclosure, modification, misuse, loss or destruction of company systems or data; theft of sensitive, regulated or confidential data, such as personal information, important data or our intellectual property; the loss of functionality of critical systems through ransomware, denial of service or other attacks; and business delays, service or system disruptions, damage to equipment and injury to persons or property. The methods used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems are constantly evolving and may be difficult to anticipate or to detect for long periods of time. The constantly changing nature of the threats means that we may not be able to prevent all data security breaches or misuse of data. Similarly, we depend on the ability of our key commercial partners, including our regional carriers, distribution partners and technology vendors, to conduct their businesses in a manner that complies with applicable security standards and assures their ability to perform on a timely basis.
In addition, the costs and operational consequences of defending against, preparing for, responding to and remediating an incident of cybersecurity breach may be substantial. As cybersecurity threats become more frequent, intense and sophisticated, costs of proactive defense measures may increase. Further, we could be exposed to litigation, regulatory enforcement or other legal action as a result of an incident, carrying the potential for damages, fines, sanctions or other penalties, as well as injunctive relief requiring costly compliance measures. A cybersecurity incident could also impact our brand, harm our reputation and adversely impact our relationship with our customers, employees and stockholders. Failure to appropriately address these issues could also give rise to potential legal risks and liabilities.
16
We could be adversely affected by a failure or disruption of our computer, communications or other technology systems.
We are increasingly dependent on technology to operate our business. To enhance our management of flight operations, we have launched and continued optimizing a new computer system to manage the whole flight operation process. The system utilizes advanced computer and telecommunications technology to manage our flights on a centralized, real-time basis. We believe that the system will enhance the efficiency of flight schedule, increase the utilization of aircraft and improve the coordination of our aircraft maintenance and ground servicing functions. Although we have designed and implemented a variety of security measures and backup plans to prevent or limit the effect of failure, the computer and communications systems on which we rely may be vulnerable to substantial or repeated disruptions due to various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including natural disasters, power failures, terrorist attacks, equipment or software failures and computer viruses and hackers. We cannot assure that the measures we have taken to reduce the risk of some of these potential disruptions are adequate to prevent disruptions to or failures of these systems. Any substantial or repeated failure of those systems could adversely affect our operations and customer services, and result in the loss of important data, loss of revenue and increased costs. Moreover, a failure of our vital systems could limit our ability to operate our flights for an extended period of time, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and business.
U.S. Holders will be subject to adverse tax consequences if we are considered to be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes
Depending upon the relative values of our passive assets and income as compared to our total assets and income each taxable year, we could be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, by the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We believe that we were not a PFIC for the taxable year 2021. However, there is no assurance that the IRS will not take a contrary position and assert that we are a PFIC, and no assurances can be given that we will not become a PFIC at some point in the future. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effects of the PFIC rules.
We will be classified as a PFIC in any taxable year if either: (1) the average value during the taxable year of our assets that produce passive income, or are held for the production of passive income, is at least 50% of the average value of our total assets for such taxable year (the “Asset Test”) or (2) 75% or more of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income (such as certain dividends, interest or royalties) (the “Income Test”). For purposes of the Asset Test: (1) any cash, cash equivalents, and cash invested in short-term, interest bearing, debt instruments, or bank deposits that is readily convertible into cash, will generally count as producing passive income or as being held for the production of passive income and (2) the average values of our passive and total assets is calculated based on our market capitalization.
If we were a PFIC, we would generally be subject to additional taxes and interest charges on certain “excess distributions” our Company makes regardless of whether we continue to be a PFIC in the year in which you receive an “excess distribution”. An “excess distribution” would be either (1) the excess amount of a distribution with respect to ADSs during a taxable year in which distributions to you exceed 125% of the average annual distributions to you over the preceding three taxable years or, if shorter, your holding period for the ADSs, or (2) 100% of the gain from the disposition of ADSs. For more information on the United States federal income tax consequences to you that would result from our classification as a PFIC, please see Item 10, “Taxation—United States Federal Income Taxation—U.S. Holders—Passive Foreign Investment Company”.
We may be unable to retain our senior management team or other key employees.
We are dependent to a large extent on the experience and industry knowledge of our senior management team and other key employees and we cannot assure that we will be able to retain them. As of the date of this Annual Report, we do not carry key personnel insurance for any of these personnel. We compete to attract and retain these key personnel with other airlines, some of which may offer better compensation arrangements. Furthermore, the negative impact of we cannot guarantee that this will continue to be the case. Any inability to attract and retain talented and highly qualified senior management team or other key employees, could have a negative impact on us.
COVID-19
pandemic on the airline industry has made it more challenging for us to compete to attract and retain these key personnel with companies in other industries. Although we have not had difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified key personnel in the past,
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Our results of operations may be negatively impacted by any jet fuel shortages or any fluctuation in domestic prices for jet fuel.
The availability and cost of jet fuel have a significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Prior to 1993, jet fuel shortages regularly occurred in China, as a result of which we had to cancel or delay flights. Although we have not experienced jet fuel shortages since 1993, we cannot assure that such shortages would not occur again, and if such a shortage occurs and causes us to delay or cancel flights, our reputation among passengers as well as our operations may suffer.
Domestic price for jet fuel has experienced fluctuations in the past few years and may continue to fluctuate in the future due to various factors. In 2021, due to the recovery of the economy, there was increasing demand for international crude oil while the growth of supply was restricted by the limited capacity of the production and transportation. As a result, international crude oil prices surged throughout the year with fluctuations. In 2021, our jet fuel cost accounted for 55.97% of our flight operation expenses. Therefore, any fluctuation in the fuel price may affect our financial performance due to our sensitivity to fuel prices. For more information on jet fuel prices, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Jet Fuel” section below for further discussion.
In 2021, a reasonable possible increase or decrease of 10% in average jet fuel prices with the volume of fuel consumed and all other variables held constant, would have increased or decreased our annual fuel costs by approximately RMB2,551 million. Accordingly, even if the jet fuel supply remains stable, increases in jet fuel prices will nevertheless adversely impact our financial results.
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Our profit for the year may suffer from unexpected volatility caused by any fluctuation in the level of fuel surcharges.
The level of fuel surcharges, which is regulated by Chinese government, affects domestic customers’ air travel demands as well as our ability to generate profits. On January 14, 2009, the NDRC and the CAAC jointly announced that the collection of passenger fuel surcharges for domestic routes should be suspended from January 15, 2009 and onwards. Subsequently, in response to the increase in international fuel prices, the NDRC and CAAC issued a notice on November 11, 2009 to introduce a new pricing mechanism of fuel surcharges that linked it with airlines’ jet fuel costs, which was further adjusted subsequently. On October 14, 2011, the NDRC and the CAAC issued a notice to adjust such pricing mechanism. As a result of this adjustment, the maximum rates for fuel surcharges can be adjusted according to the pricing mechanism of fuel surcharges, if the aggregated change in jet fuel costs exceeds RMB250 per ton. Due to the decrease in the jet fuel cost, the fuel surcharges were suspended since February 5, 2015. In March 2015, the NDRC and the CAAC issued the “Notice on Adjusting the Base Oil Price of the Passenger Transportation Fuel Addition and Aviation Kerosene Price Linkage Mechanism of Civil Aviation Domestic Routes”, pursuant to which, when the domestic aviation kerosene comprehensive procurement cost exceeds RMB5,000 per ton, an air transport enterprise can collect fuel surcharge according to the linkage mechanism. In accordance with the above regulations, we adjusted the fuel surcharges for domestic routes from June 5, 2018 (the date of issue), and, as a result, each passenger was charged RMB10 for domestic flight segments (including domestic segments of international routes) under 800 kilometers, 800 kilometers and above 800 kilometers. The fuel surcharges for domestic routes were suspended after January 5, 2019. We adjusted the fuel surcharges for domestic routes from November 5, 2021 (the date of issue), and, as a result, each passenger was charged RMB10 for domestic flight segments (including domestic segments of international routes) under 800 kilometers and 800 kilometers, and RMB20 for domestic flight segments (including domestic segments of international routes) above 800 kilometers. We cannot guarantee that fuel surcharges will not be adjusted further in the future or adjusted in our favor. If fuel surcharges are not adjusted in correspondence to the increase in jet fuel costs, our profit for the year may be materially adversely affected.
Risks Relating to the Chinese Commercial Aviation Industry
Our business is subject to extensive government regulations.
The Chinese commercial aviation industry is subject to extensive regulatory and legal oversight. The CAAC issues and implements several regulations and policies, which encompass substantially all aspects of the Chinese commercial aviation industry, such as the approval of route allocation, the administration of certain airport operations, air traffic control and pilot flight time limitations. In 2020, in order to stem the spread of the
COVID-19
pandemic, CAAC issued various guidance, orders and notices with regard to the implementation of precautionary measures in airline operations, including cleaning and sanitizing procedures, face-covering and social distancing requirements and measures for reducing physical touch points. In addition, in response to the challenges faced by the Chinese commercial aviation industry due to the COIVD-19
pandemic, CAAC also issued several policies to support Chinese airlines, including reduction or waiver of certain fees, funding support in respect of infrastructures, and simplification of certain approval procedures. Starting from April 1, 2021, the Ministry of Finance reduced airlines’ contributions to the Civil Aviation Development Fund by 20%, on top of the 50% reduction that was implemented in July 2019. Since December 1, 2020, CAAC and NDRC further expanded the scope of routes to which a market-oriented pricing policy may apply, with an additional 370 routes are covered by such expansion. The CAAC continues to implement extensive legal oversight and supervision on the commercial aviation industry, and as a result, we may face significant constraints on our flexibility and ability to conduct our business or maximize our profitability. Our results of operations tend to be volatile and fluctuate due to seasonality.
The aviation industry is characterized by annual high and low travel seasons. Our operating revenue is substantially dependent on the passenger and cargo traffic volume carried, which is subject to seasonal and other changes in traffic patterns, the availability of appropriate time slots for our flights and alternative routes, the degree of competition from other airlines and alternate means of transportation, as well as other factors that may influence passenger travel demand and cargo and mail volume. In particular, our airline revenue is generally higher in the second half of the year than in the first half of the year due to the greater demand for air travel during the summer months, although such difference has become less notable since 2020 as the traditional seasonal travel pattern were affected by the
COVID-19
pandemic. As a result, our results tend to be volatile and subject to rapid and unexpected change.Our operations may be adversely affected by insufficient aviation infrastructure in the Chinese commercial aviation industry.
The rapid increase in air traffic volume in China in recent years has put pressure on many components of the Chinese commercial aviation industry, including China’s air traffic control system, the availability of qualified flight personnel and airport facilities. Airlines, such as our Company, which have route networks that emphasize short- to medium-haul routes, are generally more affected by insufficient aviation infrastructure in terms of
on-time
performance and high operating costs due to fuel inefficiencies resulting from the relatively short segments flown, as well as the relatively high proportion of time on the ground during turnaround. All of these factors may adversely affect the perception of the service provided by an airline and, consequently, the airline’s operating results. In recent years, the CAAC placed increasing emphasis on the safety of Chinese airline operations and implemented measures aimed at improving the safety record of the industry. Our ability to increase utilization rates and to provide safe and efficient air transportation in the future will depend in part on factors such as the improvement of national air traffic control, navigation systems and ground control operations at Chinese airports, which are beyond our control. 19
In 2020, the Company completed the move of all flights in our previous Beijing hub, Beijing Capital International Airport, or Beijing Airport, to Beijing Daxing International Airport, or Daxing Airport. Because Daxing Airport is farther from the urban area of Beijing than Beijing Airport and a longer commute time is therefore required between the airport and the city, we had to implement certain promotion activities, including but not limited to lowering ticket prices and distributing discount coupons for ground transportation, to attract passengers to take our flights from the Daxing Airport. We expect to continue implementing such promotion activities for an extended period of time. These measures may have an adverse effect on our operating revenue and profits if we have to continue offering lower prices in the future.
We face increasingly intense competition in both domestic and international markets, which may materially and adversely affect our business.
Competition has become increasingly intense in recent years in our domestic market, due to a relaxation of certain regulations by the CAAC and increase in the capacity, routes and flights of Chinese airlines, as well as other factors. Beginning from 2020, the
COVID-19
pandemic has intensified such competition in the domestic market as a significant amount of international routes capacity was transferred to domestic routes and led to an imbalance in the supply-demand in the domestic market. We face varying degrees of competition on regional routes from certain Chinese airlines as well as Cathay Pacific and Air Macau, and on our international routes, primarily from
non-Chinese
airlines, most of which have significantly longer operating histories, substantially greater financial and technological resources and greater brand recognition than us. Many of our international competitors have larger sales networks, participate in more comprehensive and convenient reservation systems, or engage in more promotional activities, which may enhance their ability to attract international passengers. In addition, our business is relatively more focused on the domestic market compared to some of our major Chinese competitors, such as Air China Limited, or Air China, and China Eastern Airlines. During the reporting period, as the
COVID-19
pandemic has been better contained in China than in other countries worldwide, our competitiveness among major Chinese airlines has not been significantly impacted due to the pandemic, as compared to those airlines with greater international operations. Since early 2022, there has been an increasing number of Omicron variant cases in some regions in China, and the Chinese government has imposed restrictions in these regions. Therefore, we cannot assure that we will be able to maintain such competitive and advantage in the future, and our business may be subject to more adverse effects as compared to our competitors, and subsequently our competitiveness may be adversely affected. We expect to face substantial competition from alternative means of transportation, especially as a result of the rapid development of the Chinese rail network.
For short-distance transportation, airplanes, trains and buses are alternatives to each other. Given the recent rapid development of high-speed trains, the construction of nationwide high-speed railway network and the improvement of inter-city expressway network, the commercial aviation sector as a whole faces increasing competition from those alternative means of transportation.
The PRC government is aggressively expanding its high speed rail network. The mileage of new railway lines put into operation in 2021 reached about 4,208 kilometers. As of December 31, 2021, China’s railway traffic mileage reached over 150,000 kilometers, of which over 40,000 kilometers were covered by high-speed railway, ranking first around the world in terms of total high-speed railway traffic mileage. According to the latest development goal of China Railway, China’s railway traffic mileage will reach 200,000 kilometers by 2035, of which 70,000 kilometers will be covered by high-speed railway. The operating results of our air routes that are overlapping with the high-speed railway corridors (especially air routes with a distance of less than 800 kilometers) have been adversely affected, and we expect the continued development of the high speed rail network will continue to adversely affect our operating results in the future.
Limitations on foreign ownership of Chinese airlines may affect our access to funding in the international equity capital markets.
The current Chinese government policies limit foreign ownership of Chinese airlines. Under these policies,
non-PRC,
Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan residents can only hold up to 49% of equity interest in a Chinese airline. As of April 22, 2022, we estimate that no more than 50.75% of our total outstanding ordinary shares were held by non-PRC,
Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents. Through The Provisions on Domestic Investment in Civil Aviation Industry, effective on January 19, 2018, the Chinese government has loosened restrictions on state ownership of our total outstanding ordinary shares, which allows the percentage of state-owned shares to be under 50%. However, for so long as the limitation on foreign ownership is in force, we will have limited access to funding in the international equity capital markets. 20
The commercial aviation industry is subject to risks associated with climate change, including the increasingly stringent environmental regulation to protest against emissions. Failure to comply with existing or future environmental regulations or to otherwise manage the risks of climate change effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business.
As the climate change challenges remain a key focus area globally, the environmental regulation development and implementation have been constantly evolving and changing over the past decade. Our operations are subject to extensive and increasingly stringent national, local and international laws governing environment protection. Compliance with existing and future environmental laws and regulations could increase our operational costs, and violations of such laws and regulations could result in significant fines and penalties as well as reputational harm. Such regulation could also result in tax, regulatory or permitting requirements from multiple jurisdictions for the same operations and costs for the aviation industry, including us. In addition to direct costs, such regulation may increase fuel costs passed through from fuel suppliers regulated by any such regulations. For more details, see “Item 4. Information on the Company – Business overview – Regulation – Environment”.
For example, the European Emissions Trading Scheme may increase our operational cost. Starting on January 1, 2012, the aviation sector has been included in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), EU’s mandatory system for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Airline operators in the EU has received tradable emission permits (aviation allowances) covering a certain level of their CO2 emissions per year for their flights operating to and from EU airports. If an airline fails to obtain emission permits from the EU, it will have to buy around EUR10 million (RMB100 million) worth of CO2 emissions allowances from other greener industries. Pursuant to this policy, Chinese airlines having flight points in Europe undertake the same carbon emission reductions obligation as the European local airlines, which will result in a significant increase in the operating cost of Chinese airlines in Europe, including our Company, and further have an adverse impact on the results of operations and financial condition. In March 2011, a group representing China’s largest airlines sent a formal notice to the EU expressing strong opposition to Therefore, we submitted emission reports and paid the quota between 2012 and 2016 for our flights between airports within the EU. In April 2015, our Company completed submission of emissions reports for the years 2012 to 2014 and fulfilled our obligations under the ETS. In 2016, our Company finished year 2015 compliance cycle. On year 2017-2018 compliance cycle, our Company had been in compliance with the requirements of relevant PRC laws and the ETS. The Company completed the compliance work on 2019 EU carbon trading and Guangdong carbon trading as scheduled, and sold 695,000 tonnes of Guangdong carbon quota accumulated over the years due to the improvement of flight emission efficiency through public auctions. On year 2019-2020 compliance cycle, our Company had been in compliance with the requirements of relevant PRC laws and the ETS. In 2021, we also participated in the UK ETS in addition to the EU ETS. The compliance work for the year of 2021 are ongoing and will be carried out pursuant to relevant requirements. During the reporting period, the Company continued to put efforts into environmental protection. For more details, see “Item 4. Information on the Company – Business Overview – Environment”. However, there can be no assurance that the ETS will not have negative impact on our financial condition and result of operations.
cap-and-trade
free-of-charge
non-member-state
airlines’ inclusion in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme. Also, in early February 2012, CAAC issued instructions to various airlines announcing that without approval from the relevant Chinese government authorities, the major airlines are prohibited from joining EU-ETS
and the transport airlines are also prohibited from raising the freight price or increasing fee items under this reason. On November 12, 2012, the EU announced it was temporarily suspending the implementation of the ETS in the aviation sector in 2013 in order to forge a positive negotiation environment for all parties. In November 2014, CAAC issued a notification on the ETS. The notification provided that CAAC would not prohibit Chinese airlines to take part in the ETS if the relevant flights take off and land between the airports within the EU during 2012 and 2016. We have operated few flights between airports within the EU since 2012, and expect to operate few flights between airports within the EU in the future.While the specific nature of future actions relate to climate change is hard to predict, it is likely that they could impose significant additional costs on our operations and affect our business.
We may utilize fuel hedging arrangements which may result in losses.
We may hedge a portion of our future fuel requirements through various financial derivative instruments linked to certain fuel commodities to lock in fuel costs within a hedged price range. We entered into fuel hedging contracts in March and April 2020, and we have not entered into any fuel hedging transactions since the fourth quarter of 2020. These hedging strategies may not always be effective and high fluctuations in aviation fuel prices exceeding the
locked-in
price ranges may result in losses. Significant declines in fuel prices may substantially increase the costs associated with our fuel hedging arrangements. In addition, while we seek to manage the risk of fuel price increases by using derivative contracts, we cannot assure that, at any given point in time, our fuel hedging transactions will provide any particular level of protection against increased fuel costs. Risks Relating to the PRC
We have significant exposure to foreign currency risk as part of our lease liabilities are denominated in foreign currencies. Due to rigid foreign exchange control by Chinese government, we may face difficulties in obtaining sufficient foreign exchange to pay dividends or satisfy our foreign exchange liabilities.
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Under current Chinese foreign exchange regulations, the Renminbi is fully convertible for current account transactions, but is not freely convertible for capital account transactions. All foreign exchange transactions involving Renminbi must take place either through the People’s Bank of China or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign exchange or at a swap center.
We have significant exposure to foreign currency risk as the majority of our lease liabilities and certain bank and other loans are denominated in foreign currencies, principally U.S. dollars, Euros and Japanese Yen. Depreciation or appreciation of the Renminbi against foreign currencies affects our results significantly because our foreign currency liabilities generally exceed our foreign currency assets. We are not able to hedge our foreign currency exposure effectively other than by retaining our foreign currency denominated earnings and receipts to the extent permitted by SAFE, or subject to certain restrictive conditions, entering into foreign exchange forward option contracts with authorized banks. However, SAFE may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future. In addition, foreign currency transactions under the capital account are still subject to limitations and require approvals from SAFE. This may affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financing, including by means of loans or capital contributions. No assurance can be given that we will be able to obtain sufficient foreign exchange to pay dividends or satisfy our foreign exchange liabilities.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system may cause significant uncertainties to our operations.
Our Company and our major subsidiaries are organized under the laws of China. The Chinese legal system is based on written statutes and is a system, unlike common law systems, in which decided legal cases have little precedential value. Since 1979, the Chinese government has been developing a comprehensive system of commercial laws and considerable progress has been made in the promulgation of laws and regulations dealing with economic matters, such as corporate organization and governance, foreign investments, commerce, taxation and trade. As these laws, regulations and legal requirements are relatively recent and the PRC legal system continues to evolve quickly, these laws, regulations and legal requirements, like other laws, regulations and legal requirements in China (including with respect to the commercial aviation industry), can change quickly and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainties.
Any actions by the Chinese government, including any decision to influence our operations or to exert more oversight and control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to our operations and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise significant oversight and regulation over almost every sector of the Chinese economy, including the commercial aviation industry, and has discretion over many aspects in which it exercises such authority. Our operations are subject to various regulatory requirements. The Chinese government, including various political and regulatory entities, may also impose new and stricter regulations or impose new interpretations of existing regulations and take other actions that may influence our operations. These government actions, including changes in laws and regulations, particularly those relating to aviation, overseas listing, taxation, land use rights, foreign investment limitations, may result in a material change in our operations and the value of our securities. See also Item 5. “- Key Factors Affecting Results of Operations—Political and economic conditions and regulations”.
On December 24, 2021, the CSRC published and proposed tightening rules governing Chinese companies listing abroad, which require an offshore IPO application to be filed with the CSRC. The proposed rules reflect the continued efforts and plan of the Chinese government to scrutinize and exert more oversight and control over capital market activities including offshore listings. We believe that we are currently not required to file with or obtain permissions from the CSRC to maintain our listing in U.S., but the CSRC or any other PRC regulatory authorities may issue any laws or rules that would require us to file with or obtain approvals from the CSRC or other governmental agencies, and may also take actions imposing restrictions on our continued listing in the U.S. Any such actions could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities, including the ADSs, to significantly decline or be worthless.
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The enactment of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act may result in enhanced disclosure requirements for us and our delisting from the NYSE and deregistration from the SEC.
On December 18, 2020, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or HFCAA, was signed into law. The HFCAA requires the SEC to identify each issuer trading on U.S. exchanges that has retained a registered public accounting firm to issue an audit report where the firm has a branch or office located in a foreign jurisdiction, and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB has determined that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction. Registrants so identified, or Commission-Identified Issuers, are required to submit documentation to the SEC that establishes that they are not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction. In addition, if the registrant is determined to be a Commission-Identified Issuer for three consecutive
“non-inspection”
years, it will be delisted from U.S. exchanges and its securities will be prohibited from trading in the United States. Commission-Identified Issuers that are foreign issuers will also be subject to enhanced disclosure requirements, including disclosure on government ownership or control of the issuer, the name of each official of the Chinese Communist Party who is a member of the issuer’s board of directors, and whether the issuer’s articles of incorporation contain any charter of the Chinese Communist Party. On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final amendments to implement the disclosure and submission requirements of the HFCAA. On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize its rules implementing the HFCAA.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill known as the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, to amend Section 104(i) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 7214(i)) to prohibit securities of any registrant from being listed on any of the U.S. securities exchanges or traded if the auditor of the registrant’s financial statements is not subject to PCAOB inspection for two consecutive years, instead of three consecutive years as currently enacted in the HFCAA. On February 4, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the America Competes Act of 2022 which includes the exact same amendments as the bill passed by the Senate. The America Competes Act, however, includes a broader range of legislation not related to the HFCAA in response to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act passed by the Senate in 2021. The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate will need to agree on amendments to these respective bills to align the legislation and pass their amended bills before the U.S. President can sign into law. It is unclear when the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives will resolve the differences in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and the America Competes Act of 2022 bills currently passed, or when the U.S. President will sign on the bill to make the amendment into law, or at all. If either bill was signed into law, it would decrease the number of
over-the-counter
non-inspection
years from three years to two, thus reducing the time period before the securities of a Commission-Identified Issuer may be delisted or prohibited from trading. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions (“PCAOB-Identified Firm”). Under the final amendments, the SEC will begin to identify Commission-Identified Issuers shortly after registrants begin filing annual reports for 2021 by evaluating whether the annual report contains an audit report signed by a PCAOB-Identified Firm. As of the date of this Annual Report, the SEC has identified many companies that recently had filed their annual reports for 2021 as a Commission-Identified Issuer.
Our auditor is an independent registered public accounting firm with the PCAOB that is headquarted in mainland China, and is therefore a PCAOB-Identified Firm. As of the date of this Annual Report, the SEC has not identified us, but we expect that we will be identified soon after we file this annual report as our auditor is a PCAOB-Identified Firm. If we have been identified by the SEC as a Commission-Identified Issuer, we will be required to comply with the submission and disclosure requirements in the annual report for each year in which we are identified. If the SEC determines that we have three consecutive market. As a result, investors may lose the ability to trade in our ADSs and the value of ADSs held by investors may be significantly affected.
non-inspection
years, or two consecutive non-inspection
years if the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act or the America Competes Act of 2022 has been enacted, the SEC will issue order to prohibit the trading of our ADSs on any U.S. stock exchange or over-the-counter
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The enactment of the HFCAA, the implementation rules issued by the SEC and any additional rules may have a material adverse impact on the share trading performance of China-based issuers listed in the United States, including causing investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and affecting the market price of our ADSs. In addition, whether the PCAOB will be able to conduct inspections of our auditors in the next three years, or at all, is subject to substantial uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our control. We are likely to be identified by the SEC as a Commission-Identified Issuer and, if so, we will be subject to enhanced disclosure requirements. If we are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement for three consecutive years, or two consecutive years if the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act or the America Competes Act of 2022 is enacted, we may face delisting from the NYSE and deregistration form the SEC.
Holders of H Shares and ADSs generally are required to resolve disputes with us, our senior management and holders of our A Shares only through arbitration in Hong Kong or China.
In accordance with the rules applicable to Chinese overseas listed companies, our articles of association provide that, with certain limited exceptions, all disputes or claims based on our articles of association, PRC company law or other relevant laws or administrative rules, and concerning matters between holders of H Shares and ADSs and holders of A Shares, us, or our directors, supervisors, president, vice presidents or other senior officers, must be submitted for arbitration at either the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission or the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center. If an applicant chooses to have the dispute arbitrated at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, either party may request that the venue be changed to Shenzhen, a city in China near Hong Kong. The governing law for any such disputes or claims is Chinese law, unless Chinese law itself provides otherwise. Pursuant to an arrangement of mutual enforcement of arbitration awards between the PRC courts and the Hong Kong courts, Hong Kong arbitration awards are enforceable in China, subject to the satisfaction of certain legal requirements. However, due to the limited number of actions that have been brought in China by holders of shares issued by a Chinese company to enforce an arbitral award, we are uncertain as to the outcome of any action brought in China to enforce a Hong Kong arbitral award made in favor of holders of H Shares and ADSs.
PRC laws differ from the laws in the United States and may afford less protection to our minority shareholders.
Although Chinese company law provides that shareholders of a Chinese company may, under certain circumstances, sue the company’s directors, supervisors and senior management in the interests of the company, limited detailed implementation rules or court interpretations have been issued in this regard. Also, class action lawsuits are generally uncommon in China. In addition, PRC company law imposes limited obligations on a controlling shareholder with respect to protection of the interests of minority shareholders, although overseas listed joint stock companies, such as ourselves, are required to adopt certain provisions in their articles of association that are designed to protect minority shareholder rights. These mandatory provisions provide, among other things, that the rights of any class of shares, including H Shares, may not be varied without a resolution approved by holders of shares in the affected class holding no less than
two-thirds
of the shares of the affected class entitled to vote, and provide that in connection with a merger or division involving our company, a dissenting shareholder may require us to purchase the dissenters’ shares at a fair price. Disputes arising from these protective provisions would likely need to be resolved by arbitration. See “—Holders of H Shares and ADSs generally are required to resolve disputes with us, our senior management and holders of our A Shares only through arbitration in Hong Kong or China”. The PRC tax law may have negative tax impact on holders of our H Shares or ADSs, by requiring the imposition of a withholding tax on dividends paid by a Chinese company to a
non-resident
enterprise. The current tax law generally provides for a withholding tax on dividends paid by a Chinese company to a
non-resident
enterprise at a rate of 10%. Caishui Notice [2014] No. 81 provides that for dividends derived by Mainland individual investors from investing in H Shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange through Shanghai Hong Kong Stock Connect,
H-Share
companies shall apply to the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (CSDC) to obtain and CSDC shall provide the list of Mainland individual investors to H-Share
companies who shall withhold individual income tax at a tax rate of 20%. For Mainland securities investment funds investing in shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange through Shanghai Hong Kong Stock Connect, the above rules shall also apply and individual income tax shall be levied on dividends derived therefrom. 24
Caishui Notice [2014] No. 81 further provides that “dividends derived by Mainland enterprise investors from investing in shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange through Shanghai Hong Kong Stock Connect shall be included in their gross income and subject to enterprise income tax. For dividends derived by Mainland enterprises where the relevant H Shares have been continuously held for no less than 12 months, enterprise income tax may be exempt according to the tax law.
H-Share
companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange shall apply to CSDC to obtain the list of Mainland enterprise investors from CSDC. H-Share
companies are not required to withhold income tax on dividends to Mainland enterprise investors which shall report the income and make the tax payment by themselves.” In addition, to date, relevant tax authorities have not collected capital gains tax on the gains realized upon the sale or other disposition of overseas shares in Chinese enterprise held by foreign individuals. If relevant tax authorities promulgate implementation rules on the taxation of capital gains realized by individuals upon the sale or other disposition of the shares, individual holders of the shares may be required to pay capital gains tax.
Our investors in the U.S. who rely on our auditor’s audit reports currently do not have the benefit of PCAOB oversight.
Auditors of companies that are registered with the SEC and traded publicly in the United States, including our independent registered public accounting firm, must be registered with the PCAOB, and are required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess their compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. The PCAOB, however, is currently unable to inspect a registered public accounting firm’s audit work relating to a company’s operations in China where the documentation of such audit work is located in China. Accordingly, our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit of our operations in China is not subject to the PCAOB inspection.
The PCAOB has conducted inspections of independent registered public accounting firms outside of China and has at times identified deficiencies in the audit procedures and quality control procedures of those accounting firms. Such deficiencies may be addressed in those accounting firms’ future inspection process to improve their audit quality. Due to the lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China, our investors do not have the benefit of the regular evaluation by PCAOB of the audit works, audit procedures and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm.
If additional remedial measures are imposed against four
PRC-based
accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, in administrative proceedings brought by the SEC, it could result in our financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In December 2012, the SEC instituted administrative proceedings against four
PRC-based
accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, alleging that they had refused to produce audit work papers related to their audit of certain PRC-based
companies that are publicly traded in the United States. On January 22, 2014, an initial administrative law decision was issued, which determined that the four PRC-based
accounting firms should be censured and barred from practicing before the SEC for a period of six months. The four PRC-based
accounting firms appealed the initial administrative law decision to the SEC. The initial law decision is neither final nor legally effective unless and until it is endorsed by the full SEC. In February 2015, each of the four PRC-based
accounting firms agreed to a censure and to pay a fine to the SEC to settle the dispute and avoid suspension of their ability to practice before the SEC. The settlement requires the firms to follow detailed procedures to provide the SEC with access to PRC-based
firms’ audit documents via the CSRC. We were not and are not the subject of any SEC investigations nor are we involved in the proceedings brought by the SEC against the accounting firms. If the firms do not follow these procedures or if there is a failure in the process between the SEC and the CSRC, the SEC could impose penalties such as suspensions, or it could restart the administrative proceedings. If the accounting firms including our independent registered public accounting firm were denied, temporarily or permanently, the ability to practice before the SEC, and we were unable to find another registered public accounting firm in a timely manner to audit and issue a report on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such a determination could ultimately lead to our delisting from the NYSE or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ADSs in the United States.
25
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in the PRC based on U.S. or other foreign laws against us, our management and some of the experts named in the annual report.
We are a company incorporated under the laws of China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, most of our directors, supervisors, executive officers and some of the experts named in this Annual Report reside within China, and substantially all of the assets of these persons are located within China. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States or elsewhere outside China upon our directors, supervisors or executive officers or some of the experts named in this Annual Report, including with respect to matters arising under U.S. federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws. Our PRC legal counsel has advised us that China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan or many other countries. Our Hong Kong legal adviser has also advised us that Hong Kong has no statutory arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the United States although it may be possible for a civil action to be brought in Hong Kong based on a monetary judgment of the courts of the United States. As a result, recognition and enforcement in China or Hong Kong of judgments of a court in the United States and any of the other jurisdictions mentioned above in relation to any matter may be difficult or impossible. Furthermore, an original action may be brought in the PRC against us, our directors, supervisors, executive officers or the experts named in this Annual Report only if the actions are not required to be arbitrated by PRC law and our articles of association, and only if the facts alleged in the complaint give rise to a cause of action under PRC law. In connection with any such original action, a PRC court may award civil liability, including monetary damages.
Due to jurisdictional limitations and various other factors, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and other U.S. authorities may also be limited in their ability to pursue companies and individuals in China, in connection with any alleged violation of U.S. securities and other laws.
Recent international trade tensions could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions. The global financial markets have experienced significant disruptions in the past, including international trade disputes and tariff actions announced by the United States, the PRC and certain other countries. The U.S. administration has imposed significant amount of tariffs on Chinese goods, and the PRC government has imposed tariffs on certain goods manufactured in the United States. The United States and China signed the first phase of a trade deal in January 2020 and began the implementation of the phase one trade deal. However, there is no assurance that the trade deal will continue to be successfully implemented, or the list of goods impacted by additional tariffs will not be expanded or the tariffs will not be increased materially in the future. It is also difficult to predict the impacts of PRC or U.S. government policies, in particular, the imposition of additional tariffs on bilateral imports, on economic conditions of both countries. If the list of goods is further expanded or the tariff is further increased, the volume of
China-U.S.
import and export trade would drop significantly, which will lead to deterioration in economic conditions of both countries and decrease of business and official activities between both countries. If any new tariffs, legislation and/or regulations are implemented, or if existing trade agreements are renegotiated or, in particular, if the U.S. government takes retaliatory trade actions due to the recent U.S.-China trade tensions, such changes could negatively affect the demand for air travel as well as cargo and mail volume, which may in turn have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. 26
ITEM 4. |
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY |
A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMPANY
We were incorporated under the PRC laws on March 25, 1995 as a joint stock company with limited liability under the name of China Southern Airlines Company Limited. The address of our principal place of business is 68 Qi Xin Road, Guangzhou 510403, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number is +86 20 8611 2480 and our website is www.csair.com.
The information contained on or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report and should not be considered part of this or any other report filed with the SEC. Our filings with the SEC, including reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding us that we file electronically with the SEC are available on the SEC’s websites at www.sec.gov.
Restructuring and Initial Public Offering
As part of China’s economic reforms in the 1980s, the PRC State Council directed the CAAC to separate its governmental, administrative and regulatory role from the commercial airline operations that were being conducted by the CAAC and its regional administrators. As a result, CSAH was established on January 26, 1991 for the purpose of assuming the airline and airline-related commercial operations of the Guangzhou Civil Aviation Administration, one of the then six regional bureaus of the CAAC.
CSAH was restructured in 1994 and 1995 in anticipation of our initial public offering. The restructuring was effected through the establishment of our Company and the execution of the De-merger Agreement on March 25, 1995 by and between CSAH and our Company. Upon the restructuring, our Company assumed substantially the entire airline and airline-related businesses, assets and liabilities of CSAH, and CSAH retained its
non-airline-related
businesses, assets and liabilities. All interests, rights, duties and obligations of CSAH, whenever created or accrued, were divided between our Company and CSAH based on the businesses, assets and liabilities assumed by each of them under the De-merger Agreement. Under the De-merger Agreement, CSAH agreed not to conduct, participate or hold any interest in, either directly or indirectly, any business, activity or entity in or outside China that competes or is likely to compete with the commercial interests of our Company, although CSAH may continue to hold and control its affiliates existing on the date of the De-merger
Agreement and may continue to operate the businesses of such affiliates. Under the De-merger Agreement, CSAH and our Company also agreed to indemnify each other against any losses, claims, damage, debts or expenses arising out of or in connection with the restructuring. As of the date of this Annual Report, no indemnity has been provided by either CSAH or us. In July 1997, we completed a private placement of 32,200,000 H Shares to certain limited partnership investment funds affiliated with Goldman Sachs & Co. and an initial public offering of 1,141,978,000 H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share, and the listing of the H Shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and ADSs representing H Shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Prior to the private placement and the initial public offering, all of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock, consisting of 2,200,000,000
non-tradable
domestic shares (“Domestic Shares”), par value RMB1.00 per share, were owned by CSAH, which owned and exercised, on behalf of the Chinese government and under the supervision of the CAAC, the rights of ownership of such Domestic Shares. After giving effect to the private placement and the initial public offering, CSAH maintained its ownership of the 2,200,000,000 Domestic Shares (representing approximately 65.2% of the then total share capital of our Company), and became entitled to elect all the directors of our Company and to control the management and policies of our Group. The Domestic Shares and H Shares are both ordinary shares of our Company. In July 2003, we issued 1,000,000,000 A Shares, par value of RMB1.00 per share, and listed these shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Subsequent to the issuance of the A Shares, the shareholding of CSAH in our Company was reduced from 65.2% to 50.30%.
Share Reform Scheme
Pursuant to relevant PRC laws, we launched the share reform scheme in May 2007, whereby all the 2,200,000,000
non-tradable
Domestic Shares held by CSAH were converted into tradable A Shares. Upon the completion of such scheme on June 20, 2008, all the non-tradable
Domestic Shares have been successfully converted into tradable A Shares. 27
Bonus Shares Issuance by Conversion of Share Premium
On June 25, 2008, our shareholders approved the issuance of bonus shares by way of conversion of the share premium, and on August 14, 2008, the Ministry of Commerce approved the bonus share issuance. The issuance was effected by conversion of share premium on the basis of five new shares, credited as fully paid, for every ten existing shares. Upon the completion of the bonus share issuance of 2,187,089,000 shares, as of December 31, 2007, the number of paid up shares increased from 4,374,178,000 shares to 6,561,267,000 shares.
Aircraft Acquisitions
On April 26, 2017, we entered into an aircraft acquisition agreement with Airbus S.A.S to purchase 20
A350-900
series aircraft. The catalogue price of one A350 series aircraft is approximately US$299 million. The aggregate consideration for the acquisition will be funded partly by internal sources of our Company and partly through commercial loans by commercial banks. Six A350-900
series aircraft were delivered to us in 2019 and two A350-900
series aircraft were delivered to our Company in 2020. In 2021, four A350-900
series aircraft were delivered to us. The remaining 8 A350-900
aircraft were scheduled to be delivered to our Company during the period from 2022 to 2023. On October 20, 2017, we entered into an aircraft acquisition agreement with Boeing to purchase eight B777-300ER and 30
B737-8
series aircraft. The catalogue price of each B777-300ER series aircraft and each B737-8
series aircraft is approximately US$318 million and US$104 million, respectively. The aggregate consideration for the acquisition will be funded partly by internal sources of our Company and partly through commercial loans by commercial banks. The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered in stages to our Company during the period from 2019 to 2020. On February 28, 2019, we entered into a supplemental Boeing aircraft acquisition agreement with Boeing to amend the terms of the aforesaid aircraft acquisition agreement to change the two B777-300ER aircraft originally agreed to be acquired by our Company to two B777F aircraft. These two B777F aircraft were delivered to us on schedule in 2020. None of Boeing 737-8
series aircraft was delivered to our Company from 2019 and 2021. As of the date of this Annual Report, the delivery schedule of the remaining Boeing 737-8
series aircraft had not been determined. On March 21, 2018, Xiamen Airlines entered into a Boeing Aircraft Acquisition Agreement with Boeing to purchase the 20
B737-8
aircraft and ten B737-10
aircraft. The catalogue price of each B737-8
series aircraft and B737-10
series aircraft is approximately US$104 million and US$116 million, respectively. The aggregate consideration for the acquisition will be funded partly by internal sources of our Company and partly through commercial loans by commercial banks. The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered in stages to Xiamen Airlines during the period from 2019 to 2022. One Boeing 737-8
was delivered to Xiamen Airlines in 2019 but no Boeing 737-8
series aircraft was delivered to Xiamen Airlines in 2020 and 2021. As of the date of this Annual Report, the delivery schedule of the remaining Boeing 737 series aircraft had not been determined. On August 30, 2019, we entered into an aircraft acquisition agreement with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Limited (“Comac”), pursuant to which we agreed to purchase 35
ARJ21-700
aircraft. The catalogue price of each ARJ21-700
aircraft is approximately US$38 million. The aggregate consideration for this acquisition will be partially funded by financing arrangements with banks or other institutions. Three ARJ21-700
aircraft were delivered in stages to our Company in 2020 and six ARJ21-700
aircraft were delivered in stages to our Company in 2021.The remaining 26 ARJ21-700
aircraft were scheduled to be delivered to our Company during the period from 2022 to 2024. During the reporting period, our Group introduced 22 aircraft (including two operating leased aircraft, three financing leased aircraft and 17 self-purchased aircraft), and disposed 11 aircraft (including two B737 series aircraft, one A320 series aircraft, three EMB190 aircraft and five A330 aircraft). As of the end of the reporting period, the fleet size of our Group reached 878 aircraft, an increase of 11 aircraft compared to the end of 2020.
We had also entered into a few other aircraft acquisition agreements prior to 2017 and the delivery schedule of the certain aircraft has not been determined. For more details on our previous aircraft acquisitions, please refer to the same section in the Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 on the Form
20-F
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2021. 28
Capital Expenditure
Our capital expenditures were RMB21,760 million, RMB22,396 million and RMB45,973 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Of such capital expenditures in 2021, RMB4,623 million was financed by leases, RMB8,722 million was financed by bank borrowings, and RMB8,029 million was financed by proceeds from issuance of shares and convertible bonds, while the remaining RMB386 million was financed by internal resources. The capital expenditures were primarily incurred as a result of additional investments in aircraft and flight equipment under our fleet expansion plans and, to a small extent, additional investments in other facilities and buildings for operations. As of December 31, 2021, we had total capital commitments for aircraft, engines and related equipment of approximately RMB54,662 million.
Non-Public
Subscriptions For detailed information about our
non-public
subscriptions, please refer to “Item 7—Related Party Transactions – Non-Public
Subscriptions”. B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
General
We provide commercial airline services throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. Based on the statistics of the CAAC, we are one of the largest Chinese airlines and, as of December 31, 2021, we ranked first in terms of number of passengers carried, number of scheduled flights per week, number of hours flown, number of routes and size of aircraft fleet. During the three years ended December 31, 2021, our RPKs changed from 284,921 million in 2019 to 153,440 million in 2020 and 152,426 million in 2021, while our capacity, measured in terms of ASKs, changed from 344,062 million in 2019 to 214,722 million in 2020 and 213,926 million in 2021. In 2021, our Group carried 98.50 million passengers and had passenger revenue of RMB75,392 million (approximately US$11,825 million).
We conduct a portion of our airline operations through our airline subsidiaries, namely Xiamen Airlines, Shantou Airlines Company Limited (“Shantou Airlines”), Zhuhai Airlines Company Limited (“Zhuhai Airlines”), Guizhou Airlines Company Limited (“Guizhou Airlines”), Chongqing Airlines Company Limited (“Chongqing Airlines”) China Southern Airlines Henan Airlines Company Limited (“Henan Airlines”), (collectively, the “Airline Subsidiaries”), all incorporated in China. In 2021, the Airline Subsidiaries carried 40.84 million passengers and had passenger revenue of RMB27,697 million (approximately US$4,344 million) and accounted for 41.46% and 36.70% of our passengers carried and passenger revenue, respectively.
We also provide air cargo and mail services. In 2020 and 2021, in response to the increased demand of freight following the outbreak of the
COVID-19
pandemic and to seize the opportunity to increase cargo and mail revenue, we improved the utilization rate of freighters and organized flights by freighters converted from passenger aircraft. Our cargo and mail revenue increased by 71.53% as compared to 2019 to RMB16,493 million in 2020, and further increased by 20.58% as compared to 2020 to RMB19,887 million (approximately US$3,119 million) in 2021. Our airline operations, as well as air cargo and mail services, are fully integrated with our airline-related businesses, including aircraft maintenance, ground services and air catering operations. Our operations primarily focus on the domestic market. In addition, we also operate regional routes and international flights. As of December 31, 2021, we operated 1,401 routes, of which 1,303 were domestic, 90 were international and 8 were regional. We operate the most extensive domestic route network among all Chinese airlines. Our route network covers commercial centers and rapidly developing economic regions in Mainland China. Our regional operations include flights between destinations in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Our international operations include scheduled services to cities in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Dutch, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States of American (USA), and Vietnam
.
29
We have striven to build the route and enhanced the operating quality of Daxing Airport.
“Guangzhou-Beijing
Dual Hub” to establish a new profit model and development mode, and gradually to develop a network-based airline. In 2019, we commenced the operation of CSA base simultaneously with the opening of Beijing Daxing International Airport, and successfully completed the first flight to/from Beijing Daxing and the transition of the first 13 routes in 2019. In 2020, we cultivated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and endeavored to build the Guangzhou hub into a model international aviation hub co-constructed
with the province and city. Presently, we have over 50% of the market share in Guangzhou. Our Guangzhou hub has formed its route network featured with Europe and Oceania as its core, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia and Eastern Asia as its hinterlands, and with North America, Middle East and Africa covered. At the same time, we have completed the relocation of all flights in Beijing Airport to Beijing Daxing Airport, with utilized time slots accounting for 45%, becoming the largest main base airline in Beijing Daxing Airport, thus providing favorable conditions and resources for the development of our new Beijing hub. By comprehensively advancing the strategic layout of the “dual hubs”, we have further improved our institutional mechanisms and supporting resources to form a new development layout of CSA with Guangzhou Hub in the south and Beijing Hub in the north. In 2021, we further advanced the hub network strategy, and accelerated the construction of two comprehensive international hubs in Guangzhou and Beijing. We continued to establish the Guangzhou-Shenzhen
integrated hub, developed in the Greater Bay Area market, and further enhanced flight time slot coverage for the Greater Bay Area market; we continued the high quality development of Beijing hub, constructed the Daxing express route, developed 6 express routes including the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Chengdu
Our corporate headquarters and principal base of operations are located in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province and the largest city in southern China. Located in the rapidly developing Pearl River Delta region, Guangzhou is also the transportation hub of southern China and one of China’s major gateway cities. Guangzhou’s significance has increased as the transportation infrastructure of Guangdong Province has developed through the construction and development of expressways, an extensive rail network and the port cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Zhuhai and Shantou. In 2021, the Company continued the construction integrating the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which drove the flow of people, logistics, information and capital in Guangdong Province and the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and enhanced the connectivity between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster and major global city clusters.
As of December 31, 2021, we had a fleet of 878 aircraft, consisting primarily of Boeing 737, 747, 777, 787 series, Airbus 320, 330, 350, 380 series, EMB 190 series, ARJ 21 series, etc. The average age of our registered aircraft was 8.0 years as of December 31, 2021.
Impact of the
COVID-19
Pandemic The widespread and persistent impact of
COVID-19
pandemic and the related travel restrictions and social distancing measures implemented throughout the world have significantly reduced demand for air travel. After initially impacting our business in domestic market significantly beginning in January 2020, the spread of the virus resulted in a global pandemic and has significantly affected our entire route network since March 2020. As a result, our business and results of operations in 2020 and 2021 were materially adversely affected. In response to the pandemic, we discharged the responsibilities for pandemic prevention and control and took numerous steps to ensure the safety of our customers and employees, while at the same time seeking to mitigate the impact on our business and results of operations and to position our business for recovery, including:
| • | Establishing a leading group for pandemic prevention and control, initiating the highest level response to public health emergency, formulating a plan to provide full support for transportation related to pandemic prevention and control, and adopting a policy of free transportation for supplies for pandemic prevention and control; |
30
| • | Adopting various precautionary measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19, including enhancing cleaning and sanitizing procedures on the ground and in the air, taking steps to help employees and customers practice social distancing and reducing physical touch points, and implementing government-mandated face-covering and body temperature checking requirements; |
| • | Making adjustments to our operational capacity by temporarily suspending or reducing the number of flights of certain routes, including those routes to and from high risk countries, exploring with our partners and suppliers the possibility of postponing the delivery of new aircraft, and seizing market opportunities to increase freight revenue; and |
| • | Strengthening our cost control by encouraging employees to take voluntary leave with reduced pay during the initial period of the pandemic when our capacity was significantly reduced, and carrying out lean cost control management including implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancement measures and strict control of the cost of jet fuel and landing fees. |
During the reporting period, we implemented the responsibilities for pandemic prevention and control, and continued to improve the pandemic prevention and control working mechanism. With reference to the national pandemic prevention and control policies, we updated and improved the Company’s pandemic prevention system and measures in a timely manner; we put a premium on the prevention of imported pandemic from overseas, advanced the pandemic prevention check points, adopted the pandemic prevention management and control measures for inbound tourists and formulated guidelines for the whole-process pandemic prevention for international flight crew; we actively coordinated with national pandemic prevention and control measures, and promoted full coverage of vaccination and 100% completion of booster injection for international flight crew and personnel in high-risk positions. During the reporting period, we protected and quarantined approximately 50,000 crew members, organized the pandemic prevention training to all staff and carried out more than 1.90 million nucleic acid tests. The Company’s special flights for
COVID-19
vaccine transported more than 130 million doses of COVID-19
vaccines within and across the borders. Route Network
Overview
We operate the most extensive route network among all Chinese airlines. As of December 31, 2021, we operated 1,401 routes consisting of 1,303 domestic routes, 8 regional routes and 90 international routes.
We continually evaluate our network of domestic, regional and international routes in light of our operating profitability and efficiency. We seek to coordinate flight schedules with the Airline Subsidiaries on shared routes to maximize load factors and utilization rates. The operation of domestic, regional and international routes is subject to approval of the CAAC, and the operation of regional and international routes is also subject to agreements between the Chinese government and the government of the Hong Kong SAR, the government of the Macau SAR, the government of Taiwan province and the government of the proposed foreign destination. Beginning in 2020, due to the
COVID-19
pandemic and its negative impact on the air travel demand in domestic and international markets, as well as the various travel restrictions and border control measures implemented by government authorities of China and other countries, we had to make certain adjustments to our routes, including temporarily suspending or reducing the number of flights on some routes. Our domestic routes were significantly affected during the first quarter of 2020 and have been gradually recovering since then, while our international routes have been adversely impacted since the second quarter of 2020 and remained affected as of the date of this Annual Report. In order to expand our route network, we have entered into code-sharing agreements with several international and domestic airlines, including American Airlines, Aeroflot-Russian Airlines, Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane, Air France, British Airways, CSA Czech Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Finnair, Japan Airlines International, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Korean Air, Mandarin Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk., Qantas Airways Limited, Vietnam Airlines, WestJet, Virgin America, and others. Under the code-sharing agreements, the participating airlines are permitted to sell tickets on certain international routes operated by us to passengers using their codes. Similarly, we are permitted to sell tickets for the other participating airlines using CZ code. The code-sharing agreements help increase the number of our international sales outlets. We continued the implementation of code-sharing during the reporting period.
31
The following table sets forth certain statistical information with respect to our passenger, cargo and mail traffic for the years indicated.
Passenger carried |
Cargo and mail carried (tons) |
Total traffic (tons kilometers) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
Total (in millions) |
Increase (decrease) over previous year (%) |
Total (in thousand tons) |
Increase (decrease) over previous year (%) |
Total (in millions) |
Increase (decrease) over previous year (%) |
||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 |
151.63 | 8.4 | 1,764 | 1.8 | 32,625 | 7.55 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 |
96.86 | (36.12 | ) | 1,461 | (17.17 | ) | 20,805 | (36.23 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 |
98.50 | 1.7 | 1,442 | (1.29 | ) | 21,209 | 1.94 | |||||||||||||||||
Route Bases
In addition to our main route bases including Guangzhou and Beijing as core hubs, we maintain regional route bases in Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Changchun, Dalian, Harbin, Haikou, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Shanghai, Xi’an, Fuzhou, Nanning, Guilin, Shantou, Guiyang and Sanya Most of our regional route bases are located in provincial capitals or major commercial centers in the PRC.
.
We believe that our extensive network of route bases enables us to coordinate flights and deploy our aircraft more effectively and to provide more convenient connecting flight schedules and access service and maintenance facilities for our aircraft. We believe that the number and location of these route bases may enhance our ability to obtain the CAAC’s approval of requests by our Group to open new routes and provide additional flights between these bases and other destinations in China. Current regulations of the CAAC generally limit airlines to operations principally conducted from their respective route bases.
Domestic Routes
Our domestic routes network serves substantially all provinces and autonomous regions in China, including Guangdong, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shannxi and Xinjiang and serves all four centrally-administered municipalities in China, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing. In 2021, our most frequent domestic routes were: Shanghai Hongqiao-Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Hangzhou, Shenzhen, ShenzhenHangzhou,
Guangzhou-Beijing
Daxing, Guangzhou-Shanghai
Hongqiao, Beijing Daxing-
-
Guangzhou-Chongqing,
Guangzhou-Haikou,
Guangzhou-Xi’an,
Chengdu- Beijing Daxing.
Regional Routes
We offer scheduled service between Hong Kong and Beijing, Shenyang, Meixian, Wuhan, Yiwu; and between Taipei and Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Changchun, Dalian, Zhangjiajie, Changsha, Harbin, Guiyang, Guilin, Nanning, Shanghai, Shenyang, Jieyang, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shijiazhuang, Yiwu and Urumqi; and between Macau and Chongqing, Changsha, Wuhan. In 2021, the most frequent regional routes were: Shanghai Pudong-Taipei, Xiamen-Taipei,
Hangzhou-Macau,
Quanzhou-Macau,
Xiamen-Hong Kong, Xiamen-Macau, Fuzhou-Macau,
Xiamen-Taipei Songshan, Fuzhou-Hong
Kong. In 2021, we conducted a total of 2,270 flights on our regional routes. Previously, direct flights between Mainland China and Taiwan were only available during certain festivals. Other than that, travelers between Mainland China and Taiwan had to make use of intermediate stops in Hong Kong or elsewhere. Since July 2008, however, the ban on direct flights was liberalized to allow direct charter flights on weekends. We were the first Chinese carrier to fly nonstop to Taiwan. On November 4, 2008, Mainland China and Taiwan agreed to have regular direct passenger charter flights across the Taiwan Strait. On August 31, 2009, Mainland China and Taiwan increased the number of regular cross-Strait direct passenger flights from 108 to 270 a week. In 2020, before the outbreak of the
COVID-19
pandemic, we planned to operate 16 routes to Taiwan, which were reduced to one (Shanghai Pudong-Taipei) due to CAAC’s requirements in response to the COVID-19
pandemic. As of December 31, 2021, only one route (Shanghai Pudong-Taipei) was retained. 32
International Routes
We are the principal Chinese airline serving Southeast Asian destinations and Australasia, including Singapore and major cities in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
In addition, we also provide scheduled services to cities in Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Dutch, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States of American (USA), and Vietnam.
In 2021, our most frequent international routes were: Shanghai Pudong-Los Angeles, Shanghai Pudong – Frankfurt, Angeles, and
Guangzhou-Frankfurt,
Guangzhou-Los
Angeles, Guangzhou-Amsterdam,
Shanghai Pudong-Amsterdam, Shanghai Pudong-Anchorage-Chicago, Chicago-Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou-Anchorage-Los
Guangzhou-London.
Beginning in 2020, our international operations were severely affected by the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic. See Item 3. “Key Information – Risk Factors – The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19
and the persistence of the resulting pandemic have had a material adverse effect on our business. The duration and severity of the pandemic, and similar public health threats or a large scale natural disaster we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business”. Aircraft Fleet
Our fleet plan in recent years emphasized expansion and modernization through the acquisition of new aircraft and the retirement of less efficient and old aircraft. As of December 31, 2021, we operated a fleet of 878 aircraft with an average age of 8.0 years. Most aircraft of our Group are Boeing and Airbus aircraft. We have the largest fleet among Chinese airline companies. Please see the table below for a list of our aircraft in terms of average age and respective passenger capacity.
Model |
Number of Aircraft |
Passenger Capacity |
||||||
| Airbus 380 series |
5 | 506 | ||||||
| Airbus 350 series |
12 | 314 | ||||||
| Airbus 330 series |
40 | 218/258/259/260/278/283/284/286 | ||||||
| Airbus 320 series |
334 | 94/130/138/152/160/166/179/189/195/200/208 | ||||||
| Boeing 787 series |
39 | 237/266/276/287/297 | ||||||
| Boeing 777 series |
15 | 361 | ||||||
| Boeing 737 series |
399 | 128/134/159/161/164/169/170/172/178/184 | ||||||
| EMB190 |
6 | 98 | ||||||
| ARJ21 Series |
12 | 90 | ||||||
| Boeing 747 series Freighter |
2 | N/A | ||||||
| Boeing 777 series Freighter |
14 | N/A | ||||||
| Total |
878 | N/A | ||||||
33
In 2021, we continued to expand and modernize our aircraft fleet. During 2021, we (i) took scheduled delivery of seventeen aircraft under purchase agreements, including four A320neo aircraft, six A321neo aircraft, four A350 aircraft, three ARJ21 aircraft; (ii) took scheduled delivery of three ARJ21 aircraft under finance lease (iii) took scheduled delivery of two
B787-9
aircraft under operating leases; and (iv) returned eleven aircraft under operating leases upon expiry, including five A330-300
aircraft, one A320 aircraft, two B737-800
aircraft, three E190 aircraft. We disposed of no aircraft during the period. During 2020, Xiamen Airlines, our subsidiary, took scheduled delivery of two ARJ21 aircraft under financing leases and one ARJ21 aircraft purchased by its own funds. During 2021, Xiamen Airlines, our subsidiary, took scheduled delivery of two ARJ21 aircraft under financing leases.
Aircraft Financing Arrangements
Overview
As of December 31, 2021, a significant portion of our aircraft is acquired under long-term leases with remaining terms to maturity mainly ranging from one to twelve years. As of December 31, 2021, of our Group’s 878 aircraft, 561 aircraft were operated under leases and 317 were either owned aircraft financed by long-term loans, or acquired either with cash or acquired by exercising the purchase options upon expiry of the relevant leases. Our planned acquisition of aircraft in the foreseeable future is generally expected be made through acquisition financed by bank loans and our own funds or under lease arrangements. Our determination as to our acquisition strategy depends on our evaluation at the time of our capacity requirements, anticipated deliveries of aircraft, our capital structure and cash flow, prevailing interest rates and other general market conditions.
The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2021, the number of aircraft operated by our Group pursuant to leases and the average remaining lease terms.
Financing Lease |
Operating Lease |
Average Remaining Lease Term |
||||||||||
Model |
Number of Aircraft |
Number of Aircraft |
Year |
|||||||||
| Boeing 787 series |
25 | 10 | 5.93 | |||||||||
| Boeing 777 series |
14 | 0 | 5.70 | |||||||||
| Boeing 737 series |
72 | 166 | 4.08 | |||||||||
| Airbus 380 series |
1 | 0 | 0.08 | |||||||||
| Airbus 350 series |
6 | 0 | 6.64 | |||||||||
| Airbus 330 series |
29 | 7 | 3.87 | |||||||||
| Airbus 320 series |
95 | 123 | 5.56 | |||||||||
| EMB190 |
0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| ARJ21 |
6 | 0 | 6.73 | |||||||||
| Boeing 777 series Freighter |
7 | 0 | 5.85 | |||||||||
| Boeing 747 series Freighter |
0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total |
255 |
306 |
4.92 |
|||||||||
Pursuant to the terms of the leases, our Group, as the lessee, is responsible during the lease term for the maintenance, service, insurance, repair and overhaul of the aircraft. Certain of our leases cover a significant portion of the relevant aircraft’s useful life and have an option to purchase the aircraft at or near the end of the lease term. For all other leases, we have no option to purchase the aircraft and are required to return the aircraft in the agreed condition at the end of the lease term. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have reached agreements with aircraft manufacturers to postpone the delivery of 11 new aircraft, including five A320 series aircraft, three 787-9 aircraft, one 777-300ER aircraft and two ARJ21 aircraft, in response to the reduced air travel demand resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, our payment obligations under such aircraft leases were also postponed. Our aggregate future minimum lease payments required under aircraft leases were RMB116,078 million as of December 31, 2021.
34
Aircraft Flight Equipment
The jet engines used in our aircraft fleet are manufactured by General Electric Corporation, Rolls-Royce plc, United Technologies International, Inc., CFM International, Inc. and International Aviation Engines Corporation. We had 131 and 94 spare jet engines for our fleet as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We determine our requirements for jet engines based on all relevant considerations, including manufacturers’ recommendations, the performance history of the jet engines and the planned utilization of its aircraft. Acquisition of rotables and certain of the expendables for our aircraft are generally handled by Southern Airlines (Group) Import and Export Trading Company Limited (“SAIETC”), a subsidiary we acquired from CSAH in August 2016, in consideration of an agency fee. We arrange the ordering of aircraft, jet engines and other flight equipment for the Airline Subsidiaries and keep an inventory of rotables and expendables for the Airline Subsidiaries.
Aircraft Maintenance
A major part of the maintenance for our fleet other than overhauls of jet engines is performed by Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (“GAMECO”), an entity jointly controlled by our Company, Hutchison Whampoa (“Hutchison”) and South China International Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, consistent with our strategy to achieve fully integrated airline operations and to assure continued access to a stable source of high quality maintenance services. The remaining part of the maintenance for our fleet other than overhauls of jet engines is performed by service providers in China and overseas. GAMECO performs all types of maintenance services, ranging from maintenance inspections performed on aircraft (“line maintenance services”) to major overhaul performed at specified intervals. GAMECO was the first of three aircraft maintenance facilities in China that has been certified as a repair station by both the CAAC and the Federal Aviation Administration. In March 1998, GAMECO received the Joint Civil Aviation Authorities certificate, which was transferred to European Aviation Safety Agency certification in November 2004, for the repair and maintenance of aircraft.
We believe that GAMECO performs major maintenance checks on our aircraft within time periods generally consistent with those of large international airline maintenance centers. In 2021, 26% of the repair and maintenances including overhaul of our Company were performed by GAMECO. Although rotables for our aircraft are generally imported through SAIETC, a portion of expendables and other maintenance materials are directly imported by GAMECO. Our agreement with GAMECO usually has a term of ten years.
Overhauls of jet engines are performed by MTU Maintenance Zhuhai Co., Ltd., or Zhuhai MTU, a jointly controlled entity of the Company and MTU Aero Engines GmbH, and also by domestic qualified service providers in GAMECO, Xiamen (TEXL), Hong Kong (HAESL) and Taiwan (EGAT), Beijing (AMECO) and by overseas qualified service providers in USA, Germany, Korea, Singapore, France, Belgium, Malaysia, Brazil, and Switzerland.
The amounts incurred by our Group for comprehensive maintenance services provided by GAMECO and Zhuhai MTU were RMB4,598 million, RMB4,104 million and RMB5,381 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Safety
We endeavor to maintain strict compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to flight safety. In addition, we have adopted measures to eliminate or minimize factors that may impair flight safety, including specialized training programs and safety manuals. The Air Safety Management Department of our Company implements safety-related training programs on an
on-going
basis in all of our operations to raise the safety awareness of all employees. As a result, overall flight safety has gradually improved. For “incidents” which include various events and conditions prescribed by the CAAC that do not involve serious personal injury or material damage to flight equipment, our Group has kept the number consistently below what is prescribed by the CAAC. For example, our “Air Transportation Incidents Per Ten Thousands Hours Ratio” was 0.0047, 0 and 0.0088 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In comparison, CAAC’s published maximum acceptable airline’s Air Transportation Incidents Per Ten Thousands Hours Ratio was 0.6, 0.6 and 0.6 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This ratio is defined as the number of occurrences of air transportation incident for every 10,000 hours of flight time. In 2008, we received the “Five-Star Flight Safety Award” from CAAC, being the first in domestic aviation industry to receive such a great honor. Subsequently in 2012, we were awarded the “Safe Flight Diamond Award” by CAAC for our 10,000,000 safety flight hours record. On June 15, 2018, our Company was honored with the 2-Star
Flight Safety Diamond Award by the CAAC, becoming the leading Chinese carrier to maintain the highest safety records in China. By December 31, 2021, our continuous safe flight span were 33.2 million hours. 35
Since the beginning of 2020, we have strictly followed the guidance of the Chinese government authorities on the prevention of the
COVID-19
pandemic and implemented various relevant safety measures. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, we immediately established a leading group for pandemic prevention and control, initiated the highest level response to public health emergency, formulated a plan to provide full support for anti-pandemic transportation, reduced flights to high risk countries and regions, and implemented protection measures for employees and control measures for passengers. We recorded zero infection among all passengers on board in international and domestic flights. Jet Fuel
Jet fuel costs typically represent a major component of an airline’s operating expenses. Our jet fuel costs accounted for 21.9%, 17.2% and 28.8% of our operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Like other Chinese airlines, we generally purchase our jet fuel from regional branches of CAOSC and Bluesky Oil Supplies Company, except at Shenzhen, Sanya, Haikou and Shanghai Pudong where jet fuel is supplied by Sino-foreign joint venture in which CAOSC is a joint venture partner. CAOSC is a State-owned organization controlled and supervised by the CAAC that controls the importation and distribution of jet fuel throughout China.
Jet fuel obtained from CAOSC’s regional branches is purchased at a market-adjusted price set within a specified range based on the guidance price issued by CAOSC with the approval of the CAAC and the pricing department of the NDRC. As a result, the costs of transportation and storage of jet fuel in all regions of China are spread among all domestic airlines. Jet fuel costs in China are influenced by costs at state-owned oil refineries and limitations in the transportation infrastructure, insufficient storage facilities for jet fuel in certain regions of China, and the prevailing fuel prices on the international market. In 2021, due to the recovery of the economy, there was increasing demand for international crude oil while the growth of supply was restricted by the limited capacity of the production and transportation. As a result, International crude oil prices surged throughout the year with fluctuations.
In addition to purchases of jet fuel from CAOSC, we also purchase a portion of our jet fuel requirements for our international flights from foreign fuel suppliers located outside China at prevailing international market prices. Jet fuel purchased from such sources accounted for approximately 11.44% and 9.33% of our total jet fuel consumption in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Our jet fuel costs increased from RMB18,797 million in 2020 to RMB25,505 million in 2021, as a result of the increase in jet fuel prices in 2021.
Fuel Surcharge
Our profit for any given year may be affected by an unexpected change in the fuel surcharge collection policies and other factors beyond our control. The level of fuel surcharges, which is regulated by Chinese government, affects domestic customers’ air travel demand as well as our ability to generate profits. On January 14, 2009, the NDRC and the CAAC jointly announced that the collection of passenger fuel surcharge for domestic routes should be suspended from January 15, 2009 onwards. Subsequently, in response to the increase in international fuel prices, the NDRC and CAAC issued a notice on November 11, 2009 to introduce a new pricing mechanism of fuel surcharge that links it with airlines’ jet fuel costs, which was further adjusted subsequently.
From April 1, 2015, the NDRC adjusted the benchmark oil price to RMB5,000 per ton, for every RMB100 by which the cost of jet fuel exceeds that price, the airlines are allowed to charge RMB0.00002566 per kilometer for the flight distance. Based on that rate, for every RMB100 by which the cost of jet fuel exceeds RMB5,000 per ton, the airlines are allowed to charge RMB0.0002566 per kilometer for the flight distance. The NDRC decreased the rate of fuel surcharge from RMB0.00002566 per kilometer to RMB0.00002454 per kilometer, from April 1, 2019. The NDRC adjusted the rate of fuel surcharge to RMB 0.00002748 per kilometer, starting from April 1, 2021. Based on that rate, for every RMB100 by which the cost of jet fuel exceeds RMB5,000 per ton, the airlines are allowed to charge RMB0.00002748 per kilometer for the flight distance. Our profit for the year may suffer from any unexpected change in the fuel surcharge collection policies and other factors beyond our control.
36
Flight Operations
Flight operations for our flights originating in Guangzhou are managed by our flight operations and marketing divisions, which are responsible for formulating flight plans and schedules consistent with route and flight approvals received from the CAAC. Our flight operations center in Guangzhou is responsible for the
on-site
administration of flights, including the dispatch and coordination of flights, deployment of aircraft, ground services and crew staffing. In addition, each of the Airline Subsidiaries maintains flight operations centers at all servicing airports for on-site
administration of their flights. Our system operations control (SOC) are responsible for monitoring conditions of our route network, administering our flight plans, collecting and monitoring navigation data and analyzing and monitoring airport conditions. To enhance our management of flight operations, we have launched and continued optimizing a new system to manage the whole flight operation process, covering flight plan production, aeronautical information processing, meteorological analysis, operation monitoring, flight deployment and other operational activities, which advanced our operation management in a more intelligent and digitalize way and improved our flight operation efficiency. We also established and improved the backup system to enhance our risk-resistance ability. We believe such system will assist us in preventing major operational risks, including from power failure, terrorist attack, hacker attack and equipment or software failure.
Training of Pilots and Flight Attendants
We believe that our pilot training program has significantly improved the quality of the training received by our pilots and has helped maintain the quality of our staff of pilots at a level consistent with the expansion of operations called for by our business strategy.
As part of the pilot training program, trainee pilots receive their initial training in the operation of a specific aircraft with Zhuhai Xiang Yi Aviation Technology Company Limited (“Zhuhai Xiang Yi”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, which also provides training to pilots from other Chinese airlines. Zhuhai Xiang Yi is equipped with simulators for the majority of models of aircraft currently operated by us and provides flight simulation training services to us.
Our pilots are required to be licensed by the CAAC, which requires an annual proficiency check. Our pilots attend courses in simulator training twice annually and in emergency survival training once annually. We also conduct regular advanced training courses for captains and captain candidates. Pilots advance in rank based on number of hours flown, types of aircraft flown and their performance history.
We conduct theoretical and practical training programs for our flight attendants at our Flight Attendants Training Center in Guangzhou (the “Guangzhou Training Center”). The Guangzhou Training Center is equipped with computerized training equipment, as well as simulator cabins for all models of aircraft currently operated by us. At the Guangzhou Training Center, our flight attendants receive comprehensive training in
in-flight
service, emergency evacuation and water rescue. Ground Services
We make arrangements with airport authorities, other airlines or ground services companies for substantially all ground facilities, including runway, ramp, terminal and support services buildings, at each airport that they serve. We pay landing, parking and other fees to such airports, including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. At domestic airports, such fees are generally determined by CAAC.
At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, we operate our own passenger
check-in,
cargo, mail and baggage handling, aircraft maintenance and cleaning services. We also provide such services to our customer airlines that operate in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. 37
Ground services at the airports, such as those in Shenzhen, Changsha, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Haikou, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Jieyang, Guiyang, Shenyang, Harbin, Dalian, Changchun, Sanya, Nanning, Chongqing, Shanghai Hongqiao, Shanghai Pudong and Urumqi, are operated directly by the Group. Ground services at the airport in Beijing have been primarily provided by Beijing China Southern Airlines Ground Services Co., Ltd, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in June 2009. Ground services at other airports in China are provided to us by local airport authorities or local airlines in accordance with relevant service agreements. Ground services and other services at airports outside China are provided to us by foreign services providers in accordance with relevant service agreements with such parties. All our such agreements are short-term and otherwise on customary terms in the industry.
Air Catering
We own a 70.5% equity interest in Guangzhou Nanland Air Catering Company Limited (“Nanland”). Nanland provides
in-flight
meals, snacks, drinks and related services for all of our flights originating from airports around China. We also contract with various air catering suppliers with respect to in-flight
catering services for flights originating from other airports, generally on an annual basis and otherwise on customary terms in the industry. Following the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic, we have limited the food and beverage services in certain flights in order to reduce physical touch points.Cargo and Mail
We also provide air cargo and mail services. A significant portion of these services are combined with passenger flights services. In 2021, we had two Boeing 747 freighters and 14 Boeing 777 freighters, mainly servicing 13 international cargo routes, including:
Guangzhou–Chongqing–Amsterdam–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–Amsterdam–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–Frankfurt–London–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–Frankfurt–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–Anchorage–LosAngeles–Guangzhou, Guangzhou–HoChiMinhCity–Hanoi–Guangzhou, ShanghaiPudong–Amsterdam–Chongqing–ShanghaiPudong, ShanghaiPudong–Amsterdam–ShanghaiPudong, ShanghaiPudong–Frankfurt–ShanghaiPudong, ShanghaiPudong–Anchorage–Chicago–ShanghaiPudong, and ShanghaiPudong–LosAngeles–ShanghaiPudong,
Shenzhen-Frankfurt-Shenzhen
and Shenzhen-Anchorage-Chicago-Shenzhen.
From 2020, following the onset of the
COVID-19
pandemic, the demand for freight significantly increased. In 2021, we continued to take active measures to increase freight revenue, including improving the utilization rate of freighters, and organized 7,023 flight shifts by freighters converted from passenger aircraft, and achieved positive operating results. Cargo and mail revenue was RMB19,887 million in 2021, representing an increase of 20.58% compared to 2020. We conduct our cargo business primarily through our cargo hubs in Guangzhou and Shanghai. Sales, Reservations and Marketing
Passenger Ticket Sales and Reservations
Our ticket sales and reservations are conducted by or through independent sales agents and our own network of exclusive sales offices, as well as the CAAC’s sales offices and CSAH’s affiliates. We have sales offices in Guangzhou and our other route bases. In addition, we maintain regional sales offices in other cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai. We maintain international sales offices in many cities in all continents except for South America, including but not limited to Almaty, Amsterdam, Auckland, Bangkok, Busan, Chicago, Dubai (Sharjah), Frankfurt, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Islamabad, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, New York, Nairobi, Paris, Roma, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, Tokyo, Vancouver and Vientiane.
We have agency agreements with airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the United States and Africa for the processing of ticket sales and reservations on a reciprocal basis. In 2021, over 54.60% of all ticket sales for our scheduled flights were made by our network of sales offices and CSAH’s affiliates. We also sell tickets and accept reservations through an extensive network of
non-exclusive
independent sales agents. Under the agency agreements with them, we pay commissions based on the value of tickets sold. In 2021, sales by independent sales agents accounted for less than 45.40% of our ticket sales of our scheduled flights. 38
Substantially all of our sales offices and agents in China are linked electronically to the TravelSky Technology Limited’s computerized ticketing and reservations system, which is in turn linked to all domestic airlines for flights throughout China. We have also entered into membership agreements with several international reservation systems, including ABACUS in Southeast Asia, SABRE and GALILEO in the United States, AMADEUS in Europe and INFINI in Japan. These systems facilitate reservations and sales of tickets for our international flights. Since 2016, we have been focusing on improving the digitalization and intelligence level. We have launched the “China Southern e Travel” strategy, which aims to explore the needs of passengers and plan and design products from the perspective of passengers. We have built a number of quality products such as flight dynamics, seat selection and service experience. We believe technology has become one of our core competitive advantages.
check-in,
electronic invoices, face recognition, full-channel self-service refund, and meal service. The grand vision of “a hassle-free journey with one mobile device” has become a reality in technology, and the digitalization of the entire process of passenger travel has been realized. In 2018, we released the “Internet +” strategy centering on “China Southern e Travel”, and formally built a one-stop
service mobile application platform to provide passengers with excellent door-to-door
Since 2020, due to the outbreak of the
COVID-19
pandemic and the resurgence of cases in several regions, we experienced significant ticket cancellations and waived the relevant cancellation or change fees chargeable to consumers to a substantial extent either based on the change or cancellation policy we voluntarily adopted or in accordance with the orders or notices issued by the Chinese government authorities. In 2021, we continued to seek to enhance operating efficiency in light of changes in the pandemic. We adhered to a flexible operation strategy that emphasized matching the capacity with the market, matching the load volume with the load cost, and strengthening revenue management, and our customer base. Cargo
Our cargo and mail services are promoted through our own cargo divisions and independent cargo agents both within and outside China that track available space among all airlines. In particular, our Company employs a number of cargo agents in the Pearl River Delta region. In 2021, we were not required to pay cargo agents commission for domestic and international services in the Pearl River Delta region.
Promotional and Marketing Activities
We engage in regular promotional and marketing activities to increase our market share. Our promotional and marketing activities for domestic routes emphasize safety, passenger comfort and the frequency of our flights. Our promotional and marketing activities for international and regional passengers emphasize our quality of service, extensive route network in China and higher frequency of flights compared to other Chinese airlines. We were among the first to launch premium economy class seats. In addition, we also promote and market our regional and international routes on the basis of price competitiveness.
We seek to increase our brand recognition by offering new services to passengers. For example, we were the first Chinese airline to provide
off-airport
check-in
services. We also offer transfer and baggage “through-handling” services to passengers connecting to other airlines, including passengers connecting in Hong Kong for flights to Taiwan. We widened our use of information technology and introduced new services such as cell phone check-in,
SMS platforms and online meal booking. In 2017, our Company reached a strategic cooperation agreement with American Airlines. Under this agreement, American Airlines subscribed for our Company’s shares in August 2017 in the amount of USD200 million. Our Company and American Airlines also established a code sharing partnership on January 18, 2018 to provide more convenient and diversified trip options for passengers. 39
As an important strategic decision, we officially exited from SkyTeam Alliance from January 1, 2020 and focused on establishing cooperation with new strategic partners, while maintaining good relationships with the SkyTeam partners. We have had a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with American Airlines since 2017 and implemented full scope codeshare cooperation, Frequent Flyer Programs cooperation and lounge services since 2019. We have also entered into a Joint Business Agreement with British Airways and implemented enhanced codeshare cooperation in 2019. Although no longer a member of SkyTeam, CZ continues the codeshare cooperation with SkyTeam partners, including AirFrance-KLM, and other important joint business partners. We will continue to properly carry out the work of exit and fully guarantee the rights and interests of passengers. We will carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation in a more targeted manner while deepening the cooperation with the existing partners such as France Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, expand code sharing and frequent passenger cooperation with American Airlines, and launch strategic cooperation with numbers of internationally renowned airlines such as Finnair and Emirates to provide passengers with more convenient and high-quality travel options. At the same time, we continue to strengthen the coordinated development of the “China Southern Alliance” by gradually integrating with Xiamen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines in terms of capacity layout, route cooperation, resource sharing and customer collaboration. At present, we share codes with 25 international and domestic airlines, such as American Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Qantas Airways in 1,822 routes (including trunk routes and beyond routes). This further enlarged our sales channels and flight route network.
To enhance relationships with our passengers, we have launched two major frequent flyer programs, namely the “China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club” and the “Xiamen Airlines’ Egret Card Frequent Flyer Program”. By the end of 2021, we had over 89.60 million members (including those of Xiamen Airlines) under these programs.
Regulation
The Chinese commercial aviation industry is subject to a high degree of regulation and oversight by the CAAC. Regulations and policies issued or implemented by the CAAC encompass substantially all aspects of airline operations, including route allocation, pricing of domestic airfare, the administration of air traffic control systems and certain airports, air carrier certifications and air operator certification and aircraft, registration and aircraft airworthiness certification. The Civil Aviation Law, which became effective in March 1996, provides a framework for regulation of many of these aspects of commercial aviation activities. Although Chinese airlines operate under the supervision and regulation of the CAAC, they are accorded an increasingly significant degree of operational autonomy in the application for domestic, regional and international routes, the allocation of aircraft among routes, the purchase of flight equipment, the pricing of air fares within a certain range, the training and supervision of personnel and their operations.
day-to-day
As an airline providing services on international routes, we are also subject to a variety of bilateral civil air transport agreements that provide for the exchange of air traffic rights between China and various other countries. In addition, China is a contracting state, as well as a permanent member, of the International Civil Aviation Organization (the “ICAO”), an agency of the United Nations established in 1947 to assist in the planning and development of international air transport, and is a party to many other international aviation conventions. The ICAO establishes technical standards for the international aviation industry. We believe that we, in all material respects, comply with all such technical standards.
Environment
Our operations are subject to extensive and increasingly stringent national, local and international laws governing the protection of the environment. In recent years, a number of directives and other regulations have been issued by regulatory authorities in China and other countries to address, among other things, aircraft noise and carbon emissions, the use and handling of hazardous materials, aircraft age and environmental contamination remedial
clean-up
measures. For example, China has introduced energy intensity and carbon emissions-related targets for the aviation segment in the 14th Five-Year Plan, paving the way for the inclusion of a key transportation sector in the country’s carbon market. These requirements impose high compliance costs on airlines. Existing laws and future regulatory action concerning climate change and aircraft emissions could have an effect on the aviation industry. For example, with an aim to achieve carbon neutral growth on a global scale, the ICAO formally adopted, on the 39th Session of the ICAO Assembly, a global market-based management scheme in the form of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which obliges airlines to monitor and report their emissions from international aviation from 2019 and to purchase emission reduction units to cover any growth in CO2 emissions above 2020 levels from 2021. Certain CORSIA program implementation details remain unclear and thus the impact of CORSIA cannot be fully predicted at this time. However, CORSIA is expected to increase carbon emission management costs for airlines that operate internationally.
40
The European Union has set a binding target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and the intermediate step towards climate neutrality was to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 as compared to that of 1990s. Therefore, the European Commission further introduced a set of proposals of “Fit for 55 Package” on July 14, 2021. As part of the “Fit for 55 Package”, rules for aviation in the ETS are being revised and the free ETS quotas allocated to airlines will be passed out by 2026, which will further increase operating costs for airlines.
According to the regulatory requirements on carbon emissions management issued by the relevant national and Guangzhou regulatory authorities, we are required to submit the monitoring plans and carbon emission reports, accept inspection for carbon emission, fulfil the obligations of quota clearance as scheduled and improve the comprehensive capabilities of carbon emission management and trading.
Route Rights
Domestic Routes
Non-Chinese
airlines are not permitted to provide domestic air service between destinations in China. The CAAC’s policy is to assign a domestic route to the Chinese airline that is best suited to serve the route based, in part, on the location of the airline’s main or regional base at the point of origin. Under current regulations, airlines are generally expected to operate mainly from their route bases, and flights within a particular region are expected to be served by airlines based in that region. We believe that these regulatory parameters benefit airlines, such as our Group, that have a large number of regional route bases. The CAAC also considers other factors that may make a particular airline suitable to operate a domestic route, including the applicant’s general operating authority, compliance with pricing regulations and regulations applicable to safety and service quality, market demand, the ability of the applicant in terms of its existing routes, airport facilities and related support services. The CAAC considers market conditions for a domestic route in determining whether the route should be allocated to one or more airlines. Generally, the CAAC requires that the passenger load factor on certain route should be above the average rate of the whole market in the last flight season before additional flights and participants may be put on that route.
Regional Routes
Previously, direct flights between Taiwan and Mainland China were only available during certain festivals. Since July 4, 2008, however, the ban on direct flights has been liberalized to allow direct charter flights on weekends. On November 4, 2008, the Mainland China and Taiwan agreed to regular direct passenger charter flights across the Taiwan Strait. On August 31, 2009, the Mainland China and Taiwan extended the number of regular cross-Strait direct passenger flights from 108 to 270 a week. Cross-Strait direct passenger flights were further increased in the following years, but were significantly reduced since 2020 due to the
COVID-19
pandemic. International Routes
COVID-19
pandemic worldwide, CAAC issued a notice regarding the reduction of the number of international routes. Pursuant to the notice a PRC airline may only operate one route for flying to and from each foreign country, and no more than one flight can be operated each week for each such international route. Some international flights of the Company were canceled and the number of the international flights of the Company was substantially reduced following the notice. The timing and extent of the resumption of the canceled routes and flights will depend on the policy of the CAAC. 41
Air Fare Pricing Policy
In recent years, there were a series of air fare reform to deregulate the control on the air fare pricing policy step by step. Pursuant to “Pricing Reform of Domestic Civil Aviation” as approved by the State Council of the PRC effective on April 20, 2004, prices on domestic routes fluctuate freely within a predetermined range. Instead of direct supervision by setting prices of air tickets through a local price bureau, the government provides guidance on domestic flights and domestic civil aviation is controlled by the government indirectly. Market-oriented pricing policy was introduced and pricing system has been adjusted as a result of the above pricing reform. The CAAC and NDRC issued a notice on April 13, 2010, pursuant to which, effective on June 1, 2010, airlines may set first-class and business-class airfares freely in accordance with market prices, subject to relevant PRC laws. The economy-class airfares remain subject to the predetermined range. The CAAC and NDRC further issued a notice, pursuant to which, effective on October 20, 2013, airlines are free to set domestic flights airfares not exceeding up to 25% above the bench mark prices where governmental pricing guidance is applicable; and to freely determine the airfares for domestic routes with the market-oriented pricing policy based on the market demand and supply situation.
On September 29, 2016, the CAAC and NDRC further issued the Notice on Deepening the Pricing Reform of Demotic Civil Aviation to further expand the scope of the routes with the market-oriented pricing policy: airfares for the routes less than 800 kilometers or the routes more than 800 kilometers and in competing relationship with the high-speed rail EMU trains can be freely determined by airlines. Airlines may raise the
non-discounted
announced airfares for a certain amount of routes with the market-oriented pricing policy. In principle, such amount shall be no more than 10 per flight season, and the accumulative increase rate of airfares shall be no more than 10 percent per route per flight season. On December 17, 2017, the CAAC and NDRC further issued the Notice on Further Deepening the Pricing Reform of Demotic Civil Aviation, pursuant to which the airlines were allowed to decide their own prices on domestic routes that have at least five carriers competing. Price increases of no more than 10% would be also allowed for each travel season. For each airline, the total number of the routes which the airline can decide their own price shall be no less than 10 but shall generally not exceed 15% of the total number of routes with market-oriented pricing operated by such airline in one flight season. On April 13, 2018, CAAC issued the Notice on Distributing the Catalog of Domestic Routes adopting Market Regulation Price. The catalog of domestic routes is published together with such notice.
On November 26, 2020, CAAC and NDRC issued the Notice on Further Deepening the Pricing Reform of the Domestic Routes of Demotic Civil Aviation to further expand the scope of routes that may adopt market-oriented pricing policy. Under the Notice, airlines are allowed to decide their own prices on domestic routes that have at least three competing carriers, rather than previous five competing carriers. The catalog of domestic routes that qualify for adopting market-oriented pricing as a result of the new requirement is published together with such notice. The notice became effective on December 1, 2020.
Published air fares of Chinese airlines for the Hong Kong and Taiwan routes are determined by the CAAC and the relevant civil aviation authorities in Hong Kong or Taiwan. Airlines may offer discounts on flights on their Hong Kong and Taiwan regional routes.
42
Published air fares of Chinese airlines for international routes (except for Japan) are determined by Chinese airlines at their own discretion, taking into account the international air fare standards established through the International Air Transport Association. For Japan routes, air fares must be approved by the relevant civil aviation authorities in Japan, and discounting of published international air fares is permitted.
Acquisition of Aircraft and Flight Equipment
If a Chinese airline plans to acquire an aircraft, the airline must first seek approval from the CAAC and NDRC. The airline must, as a condition of approval, provide specific acquisition plans, which are subject to modification by the CAAC and NDRC. If the CAAC and NDRC approve an aircraft acquisition, the airline negotiates the terms of the acquisition with the manufacturer together with China Aviation Suppliers Holding Company (“CASC”), an entity controlled by CAAC, because CASC possesses the license required to import or export aircraft, and CASC receives a commission in respect thereof. Most Chinese airlines are also required to acquire their aircraft engines, spare parts and other flight equipment through CASC. Our Company and a few other Chinese airlines are permitted to import jet engines and other flight equipment for their own use without the participation of CASC. In the case of our Company, SAIETC acts as our import agent and receives an agency fee for our services.
Jet Fuel Supply and Pricing
CAOSC and Bluesky Oil Supplies Company, companies supervised by the CAAC, are the only jet fuel supply companies in China, with the exception of the joint venture jet fuel supply companies that supply Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Sanya, Haikou, Shanghai Pudong and other small airports. As a result, all Chinese airlines purchase their domestic jet fuel supply requirements (other than the above mentioned exceptions) from the seven regional branches of CAOSC. Jet fuel obtained from such regional branches is purchased at a market-adjusted price set within a specified range based on the guidance price issued by CAOSC with the approval of the CAAC and the pricing department of the NDRC.
Safety
The CAAC puts the improvement of air traffic safety in China on a high priority and is responsible for the establishment of operational safety, maintenance and training standards for all Chinese airlines. The Chinese airlines are required to provide monthly flight safety reports to the CAAC, including reports of flight or other incidents or accidents and other safety related problems involving such airline’s aircraft occurring during the relevant reporting period. The CAAC periodically conducts safety inspections on individual airlines.
Every pilot is required to pass CAAC-administered examinations before obtaining a pilot license and is subject to an annual recertification examination.
All aircraft operated by Chinese airlines, other than a limited number of leased aircraft registered in foreign countries, are required to be registered with the CAAC. All aircraft operated by Chinese airlines must have a valid certificate of airworthiness, which is issued annually by the CAAC. In addition, maintenance permits are issued to a Chinese airline only after its maintenance capabilities have been examined and assessed by the CAAC. Such maintenance permits are renewed annually. All aircraft operated by Chinese airlines may be maintained and repaired only by CAAC-certified maintenance facilities, whether located within or outside China. Aircraft maintenance personnel must be certified by the CAAC before assuming aircraft maintenance positions.
Security
The CAAC establishes and supervises the implementation of security standards and regulations for the Chinese commercial aviation industry. Such standards and regulations are based on Chinese laws, as well as standards developed by international commercial aviation organizations. Each airline and airport in China is required to submit to the CAAC an aviation security handbook describing specific security procedures established by such airline or airport for the operations of commercial aviation and procedures for staff training on security. Such security procedures must be based on relevant CAAC regulations and international commercial aviation treaties. Chinese airports and airlines that operate international routes must also adopt security measures in accordance with the requirements of the relevant international agreements.
day-to-day
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Noise and Environmental Regulation
All airlines in China must comply with the noise and environmental regulations of the PRC State Environmental Protection Agency. Applicable regulations of the CAAC permit Chinese airports to refuse to grant
take-off
and landing rights to any aircraft that does not comply with noise regulations. Chinese Airport Policy
The CAAC supervises and regulates all civilian airports in China. The local government of the PRC manages the administration of most civilian airports in China. Airports in China are also subject to regulation and ongoing review by the CAAC, which determines
take-off
and landing charges, as well as charges for the use of airports and airport services. Chinese Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Laws
The regulatory environment in China and elsewhere as it relates to the collection, use, transfer, and other processing of data, “important data,” and personal data and other types of information is rapidly evolving and is likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future.
The PRC Cyber Security Law, or the CSL, became effective in June 2017 and created China’s first national-level data protection for different types of “network operators,” which may include all organizations in China that provide services over the internet or another information network. The PRC Data Security Law, or the DSL, which took effect in September 2021, provides for a cybersecurity review procedure for “data processors” when their data activities may affect national security and the protection scheme of “important data.” “Data processors” may include all organizations in China that collect, store, use, process, transfer, provide, disclose any data in electronic or other form. The DSL also sets up a framework that classifies and categorizes data collected and stored in China and regulates its storage and transfer based on the degree of importance of data in economic and social development, as well as the extent of damage caused to national security, public interests or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations once data are tampered with, destroyed, leaked or illegally obtained or illegally used. Certain categories of network operators and data processors processing certain types of data will also be subject to data localization requirements. The PRC Personal Information Protection Law, or the PIPL, which took effect from November 2021, provides a comprehensive set of data privacy and protection requirements that apply to the processing of personal information. The PIPL also clarifies the definition of personal information and sensitive personal information, the legal basis of personal information processing, the basic requirements of notice and consent and the restrictions of data cross-border transfer.
Numerous regulations, guidelines and other administrative measures have been or are expected to be adopted under China’s three-pillar data protection regime framework made up of the CSL, the DSL and the PIPL. On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, together with 12 other government departments of the PRC, jointly promulgated the revised Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures provide that certain network operators that intend to purchase network products and services and network platform operators engaging in data processing activities must be subject to cybersecurity review by a Cybersecurity Review Office, or the CRO, an administrative body within the CAC, if national security will or may be affected. The Cybersecurity Review Measures further require that if a network operator who possesses personal information of more than one million users plans to be listed in foreign countries, it must apply for cybersecurity review from the CRO. The Cybersecurity Review Measures also grant the CRO the discretion to start a cybersecurity review against any entity, if the CAC or any of 12 other government departments consider relevant products and services or data processing activities will or may affect national security. In respect of data cross-border transfer, on October 29, 2021, the CAC released the Draft Measures on Outbound Data Transfer Security Assessments, or the Draft Measures, for public comment. The Draft Measures, once finalized, may require large personal information controllers (those process over 1 million individuals’ personal information) and other network operators to undergo a government security assessment before transferring personal information out of China.
In addition, certain industry-specific laws and regulations affect the collection and transfer of personal data in China. For example, the Order of the PRC Ministry of Transport regarding Provisions on the Administration of Passenger Services in Public Air Transport, which became effective and implemented on September 1, 2021, stipulates that carriers, airports, ground service agents, aviation sales agents, aviation sales network platform operators, and aviation information enterprises shall abide by the laws and regulations on the personal information protection, and shall not divulge, sell, illegally use or provide the personal information of passengers to others.
We routinely receive, collect, store, process, transmit and maintain personal information along with other sensitive data. We may also receive, store, process, generate, control, or otherwise have access to “important data” in our businesses. As such, we are subject to the relevant PRC data security, cyber-security, and personal data protection privacy laws, regulations, and standards that apply to the collection, generation, use, retention, protection, disclosure, transfer and other processing of personal information and “important data”. Based on the size of our company, the industry sections in which we operate, and the fact that we are also listed abroad, we expect to be subject to heightened scrutiny and obligations with regard to cybersecurity, data security, and the protection of personal information once all the relevant regulations and rules have been promulgated.
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Competition
The CAAC’s extensive regulation of the Chinese commercial aviation industry has had the effect of managing competition among Chinese airlines. Nevertheless, competition has become increasingly intense in recent years due to a number of factors, including relaxation of certain regulations by the CAAC, an increase in the number of Chinese airlines and an increase in the capacity, routes and flights of Chinese airlines.
In the Chinese aviation industry, the three major airlines are our Group, Air China and China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited (the “China Eastern Airlines”). In 2021, these three airlines together controlled approximately 55.82% of the commercial aviation market in China as measured by the number of passengers carried.
Most major Chinese airlines in recent years significantly expanded their fleets, while at the same time passenger traffic may not have increased proportionately. In some years, this resulted in a reduction in our passenger load factors. As a result, we are required to be more competitive with respect to, for example, the quality of service, including ticketing and reservations,
in-flight
services, flight scheduling and timeliness. The development of the COVID-19
pandemic may also have an influence on the competition dynamic among us and our Chinese airline competitors, due to our relatively greater focus on the domestic market compared to our competitors, see “Item 3, Key Information – Risk Factors – We face increasingly intense competition in both domestic and international markets, which may materially and adversely affect our business” for more discussion on competition. We also face competition from the increased use of high-speed railways. We expect that improvements in high-speed railways will continue to have a effect in the domestic the aviation market. First, the “eight horizontal and eight vertical” high-speed railway corridors are gradually being developed. Second, in the future, the railway system will gradually release its own pricing, adopt flexible pricing and market pricing. Passengers will be able to get discounts on more routes. Third,
one-third
of high-speed railway will become faster, which may attract more passengers. The competition on passengers whose trip distance are from 800 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers is intense, and with increasing speed, high-speed railways may attract passengers who travel longer than 1,000 kilometers. In addition, the operational efficiency of high-speed railways and train capacity will increase. As of December 31, 2021, China’s railway traffic mileage reached over 150,000 kilometers, among which over 40,000 kilometers were covered by high-speed railway. According to the latest development goal of the China Railway, China’s railway traffic mileage is expected to reach 200,000 kilometers by 2035, among which 70,000 kilometers will be covered by high-speed railway. Cities with populations of over 500,000 will be connected with high-speed rail lines so as to form the city connections within travel ranges of one, two and three hours respectively. The operating speed of high-speed rail has continued to increase since 2007, with the maximum operating speed increasing from 250 kilometers per hour to 350 kilometers per hour. Further improvements are expected in the future. The operating results of the Company’s routes that overlap with the high-speed rail network (especially routes with mileage of no more than 800 kilometers) will be impacted in the future to a certain extent. We believe that our Company possesses certain competitive advantages as compared to other Chinese airlines. We have the most extensive route network and the largest number of regional route bases among Chinese airlines, which we believe places us in a favorable position in the route allocation process. We also have the largest aircraft fleet among all Chinese airlines, which, together with our planned aircraft acquisitions, will permit us to expand our operations and to improve the deployment of the aircraft in our fleet. We also believe that our dominant presence in the populous and economically developed southern and central regions of China provides us with a competitive advantage in attracting new customers, and our fully integrated flight training, aircraft and engine maintenance and air catering operations enable us to achieve and maintain high quality service to our customers. We have also launched the construction of an integrated service, built a first-class international service brand, and continuously improved service quality. Our brand influence has continued to increase at home and abroad. In 2020, we were positioned to offer “affinity and refinement” service, broke down barriers between various systems and departments, have implemented a full-chain, systematic and integrated service management. With a series of new services, products and service measures rolled out, the service quality and flight
on-time
performance rate of the Company have increased, and are among the strongest in the industry. The Company was re-awarded
“National Benchmarking Enterprise of Customer Satisfaction”. In 2020, we comprehensively promoted the “Ecosphere strategy”, reinforced the construction of e-commerce
platform, and created a one-stop
service platform for mobile users. The concept of “a hassle-free journey with one mobile device” has been fully realized. We have an accumulative number of 56.46 million app registrants and an accumulative number of 39.38 million social media followers, ranked first in Asian airlines. Many key indicators, such as the number of APP activations and the number of the social media followers, continue to lead in the industry. In 2021, by providing “humanized, digitalized, refined, personalized and convenient” air travel quality service, we realized “people enjoying travelling, goods delivered smoothly”. The flight ontime performance rate of the Company has maintained a leading position in the industry for six consecutive years. 45
The following table sets forth our market share of passengers carried, cargo and mail carried and total traffic of Chinese airlines for the years indicated based on the CAAC statistics briefing.
Passengers Carried |
Cargo and Mail Carried (tons) |
Total Traffic (tons kilometers) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
Industry Total (in millions) |
Group’s Share (% of total) |
Industry Total (in thousands) |
Group’s Share (% of total) |
Industry Total (in billions) |
Group’s Share (% of total) |
||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 |
551.6 | 25.2 | 7,058 | 23.7 | 108.3 | 22.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 |
611.7 | 22.9 | 7,385 | 23.5 | 120.7 | 25.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 |
659.9 | 23.0 | 7,532 | 23.4 | 129.3 | 25.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 |
417.8 | 23.2 | 6,766 | 21.6 | 79.9 | 26.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 |
440.6 | 22.4 | 7,318 | 19.7 | 85.7 | 24.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic Routes
We compete against our domestic competitors primarily on the basis of flight schedule, route network, quality of service, safety, type and age of aircraft and, to a lesser extent, price. We compete against other major Chinese airlines in our various domestic route markets. Of these competitors, the largest two are Air China and China Eastern Airlines, which are owned or controlled by the Chinese government. We also face competition from other airlines which are not state-owned such as Spring Airlines and Jixiang Airlines.
The following table sets forth our market share in terms of passengers carried, cargo and mail carried on departing flights and total departing flights at the ten busiest airports in China in 2021 according to passenger volume data from CAAC statistics briefing.
| Airport |
Passengers Carried (% of total) |
Cargo and Mail Carried (% of total) |
Departing Flight (% of total) |
|||||||||
| Guangzhou |
47.08 | 24.38 | 46.43 | |||||||||
| Chengdu |
11.53 | 7.20 | 10.10 | |||||||||
| Shenzhen |
29.13 | 10.98 | 25.81 | |||||||||
| Chongqing |
22.06 | 12.57 | 22.66 | |||||||||
| Shanghai Hongqiao |
13.18 | 14.60 | 12.80 | |||||||||
| Beijing |
0.25 | 0.05 | 0.21 | |||||||||
| Kunming |
11.32 | 11.17 | 9.65 | |||||||||
| Shanghai Pudong |
14.32 | 7.56 | 10.57 | |||||||||
| Xi’an |
14.14 | 8.23 | 12.72 | |||||||||
| Hangzhou |
29.35 | 7.72 | 23.97 | |||||||||
The following table sets forth our market share in terms of passengers carried, cargo and mail carried on departing flights and total departing flights at eight busiest airports in southern and central China (excluding Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which are included in the table above) in 2021 according to passenger volume data from CAAC statistics briefing.
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| Airport |
Passengers Carried (% of total) |
Cargo and Mail Carried (% of total) |
Departing Flight (% of total) |
|||||||||
| Changsha |
33.63 | 16.82 | 33.40 | |||||||||
| Wuhan |
37.30 | 16.36 | 35.15 | |||||||||
| Zhengzhou |
30.09 | 5.31 | 28.03 | |||||||||
| Haikou |
23.43 | 28.15 | 22.64 | |||||||||
| Sanya |
27.04 | 27.87 | 27.67 | |||||||||
| Nanning |
22.98 | 17.22 | 22.16 | |||||||||
| Zhuhai |
31.69 | 28.94 | 31.93 | |||||||||
| Guilin |
12.87 | 10.80 | 13.31 | |||||||||
Regional Routes
In 2021, we conducted a total of 2,270 flights on our regional routes. We face less competition on regional routes than that on domestic and international routes, and earn a higher operating margin. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Air Macau, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines and Eva Airways compete with our Group in the regional traffic markets.
International Routes
We compete with a number of Chinese airlines, including Air China and China Eastern Airlines and many well-established foreign airlines on our international routes. Most of these international competitors have significantly longer operating histories, substantially greater financial and technological resources and greater brand recognition than us. Many of our international competitors have larger sales networks and participate in more comprehensive and convenient reservation systems, or engage in promotional activities that may enhance their ability to attract international passengers.
In Southeast Asian routes, our competitors mainly include Thai Airways International, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines System, Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Philippine Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines. In European routes, our competitors mainly include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa German Airlines. In the United States routes, our competitors mainly include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Cathay Pacific and United Airlines. In Australian routes, our competitors include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas Airways. We compete in the international market primarily on the basis of safety, price, timeliness and convenience of scheduling.
Airline Subsidiaries
Our Airline Subsidiaries are joint ventures established by our Company and local companies in the provinces or special economic zones where our Airline Subsidiaries are based and are engaged in providing airline and related services. As of December 31, 2021, our Company owned a 55% or 60% equity interest in each of our Airline Subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2021, Xiamen Airlines operated under the “MF” code with a fleet of 209 aircraft. In 2021, Xiamen Airlines carried a total of about 26.12 million passengers, or approximately 26.5% of the passengers carried by our Group in that year, and had RMB19,729 million in traffic revenue.
As of December 31, 2021, Shantou Airlines operated under “CZ” code with a fleet of 16 aircraft. In 2021, under the centralized allocation of flight routes of our Group, Shantou Airlines carried a total of about 2.29 million passengers, or 2.3% of the passengers carried by our Group in that year. Total traffic revenue of Shantou Airlines for the year ended December 31, 2021 was RMB 1,408 million.
As of December 31, 2021, Zhuhai Airlines operated under the “CZ” code with a fleet of 16 aircraft. In 2021, under the centralized allocation of flight routes of our Group, Zhuhai Airlines carried a total of about 2.03 million passengers, or approximately 2.1% of the total number of passengers carried by our Group in that year. Total traffic revenue of Zhuhai Airlines for the year ended December 31, 2021 was RMB 1,345 million.
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As of December 31, 2021, Guizhou Airlines operated under the “CZ” code with a fleet of 20 aircraft. In 2021, under the centralized allocation of flight routes of our Group, Guizhou Airlines carried a total of about 2.85 million passengers, or approximately 2.9% of the total number of passengers carried by our Group in that year. Total traffic revenue of Guizhou Airlines was approximately RMB1,773 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
As of December 31, 2021, Chongqing Airlines operated under the “OQ” code with a fleet of 30 aircraft. In 2021, under the centralized allocation of flight routes of our Group, Chongqing Airlines carried a total of about 3.74 million passengers, or3.8% of the total number of passengers carried by our Group in that year. Total traffic revenue of Chongqing Airlines for the year ended December 31, 2021 was RMB 2,319 million.
As of December 31, 2021, Henan Airlines operated under the “CZ” code with a fleet of 30 aircraft. In 2021, under the centralized allocation of flight routes of our Group, Henan Airlines carried a total of about 3.81 million passengers, or approximately 3.9% of the total number of passengers carried by our Group in that year. Total traffic revenue of Henan Airlines was approximately RMB2,386 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Southern AirLogistic Subsidiary
China Southern Air Logistics Co., Ltd., or Southern Air Logistics Company, was established in June 2018 with registered capital of RMB1.8 billion. It mainly conducts logistics operations. In December 2020, the Company, Southern Air Logistic Company and certain third parties investors entered into a capital increase agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, the third party investors made capital contribution of approximately RMB3,355 million into the Southern Air Logistic Company. After the capital contribution, the Company’s equity interests in the Southern Air Logistic Company decreased from 100% to 55%.
In 2021, Southern Air Logistic Company had an operating revenue of RMB19,659 million and a net profit of RMB5,693 million, representing an increase of 27.68% and 41.86%, respectively, from 2020. As at December 31, 2021, Southern Air Logistic Company’s total assets amounted to RMB 14,170 million and net assets amounted to RMB 10,574 million.
Environment
During the reporting period, the Company continued to push forward the Green Flight, advocated the concept of lowcarbon travel, and sought to reduce environmental pollution by the use of market mechanisms.
1. Green Flight
During the reporting period, the Company continued to promote fuel saving, with a focus on improving single-engine sliding and fuel-efficient launching, retracting flap height, and replacing Auxiliary Power Units with bridge-mounted equipment. The Company pressed ahead meal-saving activities themed by “Green Flight” to encourage passengers to dine according to needs and avoid meals on voluntary basis.
2. Research on “Dual Carbon”
During the reporting period, the Company carried out research on carbon peak and carbon neutrality and checked ground carbon to get a clear picture of its emissions, and developed energy-saving and emission-reduction projects to manage carbon assets.
3. Reduce Impact of Carbon Emission on Climate Change by Market Mechanisms
The Company has been supporting and actively participating in Chinese government’s various projects on market mechanisms of carbon trading. During the reporting period, in accordance with the requirements of CAAC, the Company fulfilled its performance for 2020 under the European Union carbon trading scheme in May 2021 and fulfilled its performance for 2020 under the Guangdong carbon trading scheme in June 2021. We fullycompleted the carbon dioxide emission report and verification of civil aviation flight activities in 2020 by using the self-developed flight carbon emission data monitoring, reporting and verification system (MRV system).
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4. Establish and Improve Information System of Environmental Protection and Management
During the reporting period, the Company continued the building of an information management system to implement online reporting and processing of data and information regarding energy consumption and pollutant discharge, and online monitoring of environmental pollution sources, risk points, and prevention and control measures.
5. Establish and Improve t h e Emergency Management System for Environmental Contingencies
During the reporting period, the Company focused on emergency plans for environmental contingencies, which were supplemented by special management and plans for environmental impact assessment reports, environmental contingencies, fires, hazardous aviation chemicals, and hazardous wastes, and supported by emergency plans of each secondary unit, so as to establish a complete emergency management system for environmental contingencies.
6. Develop Passenger Carbon Account and Launch the Passenger Flight Carbon Calculator
During the reporting period, the Company opened carbon accounts for passengers, which will record the reduced carbon emission behaviors such as cancelling meals, and use of electronic
check-in,
and launched the passenger flight carbon calculator, which seeks to involve passengers in the reduction of flight carbon emissions. 7. Control Plastic Pollution
During the reporting period, the Company prepared the overall plan for the treatment of plastic pollution, formulated the replacement standards for disposable
non-degradable
plastic products, implemented the standards of management and control in the production and procurement links, and carried out separate recycling and disposal. 8. Initiate the Prevention and Control Work for Voice Pollution
The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution was published in December 2021 in the PRC and will be implemented in June 2022. During the reporting period, the Company initiated prevention and control work for voice pollution and studied countermeasures on voice reduction during taking off and landing of aircraft.
Insurance
The aviation insurance in the name of CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES COMPANY LIMITED as a member of CHINA CIVIL AVIATION GROUP INSURANCE FLEET, is placed with the PICC Property & Casualty Company Limited, China Pacific Property Insurance Co., Ltd., Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. and China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited as Insurers. We maintain aviation hull all risks, spares and airline liability insurance policy, aircraft hull all risks and spare engines deductible insurance policy, aviation hull war and allied perils policy, aviation war, hijacking and other perils excess liability insurance policy, all of which are in the amount customary in the Chinese aviation industry.
Under the relevant PRC laws, civil liability of Chinese airlines for death or injuries suffered by passengers on domestic flights is limited to RMB400,000 (approximately US$62,738) per passenger. As of July 31, 2005, the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air of 1999, or Montreal Convention, became effective in China. Under the Montreal Convention, carriers of international flights are strictly liable for proven damages up to 128,821 Special Drawing Rights and beyond that, carriers are only able to exclude liability if they can prove that the damage was not attributable to negligence or other wrongful act of the carrier (and its agents), or the damage arose solely from the negligence or other wrongful act of a third party. We believe that we maintain adequate insurance coverage for the civil liability that can be imposed in respect of death or injuries to passengers under Chinese law, the Montreal Convention and any agreement which we are subject to.
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The insurance premiums payable in respect of the CAAC group insurance policy are allocated to each participating airline based on the value of the airline’s insured aircraft and insured spares, airlines traffic RPK, passenger number and cargo revenue.
Intellectual Property
Our businesses and operations, other than the businesses and operations of Xiamen Airlines and Chongqing Airlines, are conducted under the names “China Southern” and “China Southern Airlines” in both English and Chinese. We use a stylized rendition of a kapok plant as our logo. Xiamen Airlines conducts its businesses and operations under the name of “Xiamen Airlines” in English and Chinese and uses its own logo depicting a stylized rendition of an egret. Chongqing Airlines conducts its business and operations under the name of “Chongqing Airlines” in English and Chinese and uses its own logo depicting a cross of two rivers.
We own various trademarks and trade names related to our business. The names “China Southern” and “China Southern Airlines” contain Chinese words of common usage and are therefore not eligible for registration as trade names under current Chinese law. The kapok logo is a trademark registered in China and recorded with the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”), the rights to which are owned by CSAH. Our Company and CSAH have entered into a trademark license agreement (the “Trademark License Agreement”), pursuant to which CSAH has licensed to our Group the right to use the names “China Southern” and “China Southern Airlines” in both English and Chinese and granted our Company a
ten-year
renewable license from 1997 to use the kapok logo on a world-wide basis. CSAH has retained the right to use the kapok logo in connection with its non-airline
related businesses conducted as of the date of the Trademark License Agreement and to permit its affiliates that do not compete, directly or indirectly, with our Group to use the kapok logo. Unless CSAH gives a written notice of termination three months before the expiration of the agreement, the agreement will be automatically renewed for another ten-year
term. In May of 2017, the Trademark License Agreement was automatically renewed by the two parties for another ten-year
term ending 2027. Xiamen Airlines owns all rights to its egret logo, which is a trademark registered in China, and recorded with the IATA. Chongqing Airlines also owns all rights to its logo, which is a trademark registered in China, and recorded with the IATA. Iran Sanctions Disclosure
Pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, if during 2021, our Company or any of our affiliates have engaged in certain transactions with Iran or with persons or entities designated under certain executive orders, our Company would be required to disclose information regarding such transactions in our Annual Report as required under Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, or ITRA. In 2021, our Company didn’t operate air services to and from Iran. In 2020, our Company operated air services to and from Iran through the specifically designated route of “Beijing—Urumqi—Tehran—Urumqi—Beijing” (the “Iran Route”) and engaged in international traffic in passengers, cargo and mail. At the beginning of 2020, we carried out four round-trip flights per week of the “Iran Route”. However, due to the
COVID-19
pandemic, the flights of the “Iran Route” have been suspended since February 2020. In order to provide our aviation services in Iran, our Company has entered into certain ground service agreement with Iran Air whereby Iran Air provides our Company with ground service, maintenance and other support services in return for certain service fees to be paid by our Company in accordance with the agreement. Our Company does not provide, nor has it ever provided, any equipment, component, or technology to Iran. The services rendered by our Company to Iran are limited to the provision of international traffic for passengers, cargo and mail and those services provided by our local offices and agents to customers. Our Company does not operate flights within Iran.
Our Company’s international route rights, as well as the corresponding landing rights, are derived from air service agreements negotiated between the Chinese government, through the CAAC, and the governments of the relevant foreign countries. With respect to the Iran Route, our Company’s international route rights associated thereto are derived from and based on the bilateral air transport agreement (the “Bilateral Agreement”) entered into by and between the Chinese government and the Iranian government. Both parties are contracting parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, opened for signature at Chicago on December 7, 1944, and entered into the Bilateral Agreement with an aim to establish and operate scheduled air services between and beyond the two countries’ respective territories. The Bilateral Agreement, which has been registered with the International Civil Aviation Organization, sets forth general principles and specific rules governing our Company’s aviation services in Iran.
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Our Company understands that Iran Air is Iran’s national airline carrier and is designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury pursuant to Executive Order No. 13382. However, Executive Order No. 13382 only “prohibits all transactions between the designees and any U.S. person.” Our Company is incorporated in the People’s Republic of China and is a foreign issuer in the United States. As our Company is not a U.S. person, our transactions with Iran Air are not prohibited by Executive Order No. 13382. Our Company further understands that it has an obligation to disclose our transactions with Iran Air as described above under Exchange Act Section 13(r)(1)(D)(iii). Iran Air is Iran’s national airline carrier and is controlled or owned by the Government of Iran. Our Company believes that Iran Air can be identified as the Government of Iran under Section 560.304 of title 31, Code of Federal Registration (relating to the definition of the Government of Iran). Our Company has not obtained any specific authorization of a Federal department or agency of the United States concerning our transactions with Iran Air.
Our Company does not anticipate any significant change in our services to Iran, either by way of increasing significantly the size of or altering the nature of our operations in the territory. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the asset of Iran office and revenue generated in connection with the air services to Iran amounted to US$0.84 million and US$390 ($0.00039 million), representing only 0.0017% and 0.000002% of the total assets and total revenue generated by our Group as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, respectively. Therefore, our Company believes that our operations in Iran for the year ended December 31, 2021 were inconsequential and quantitatively immaterial to our business, financial condition and results of operations.
C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The following chart illustrates the corporate structure of our Group as of December 31, 2021 and the aggregate effective equity interest of our Company in each of our principal subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities.
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The particulars of our principal subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 are as follows:
Name of Company |
Place and Date of Establishment/Operation |
Proportion of Ownership Interest Held by our Company |
||||
| Xiamen Airlines Company Limited |
PRC August 11, 1984 | 55 | % | |||
| Shantou Airlines Company Limited |
PRC July 20, 1993 | 60 | % | |||
| Zhuhai Airlines Company Limited |
PRC May 8, 1995 | 60 | % | |||
| Guizhou Airlines Company Limited |
PRC June 17, 1998 | 60 | % | |||
| Chongqing Airlines Company Limited |
PRC May 30, 2007 | 60 | % | |||
| China Southern Airlines Henan Airlines Company Limited |
PRC September 27, 2013 | 60 | % | |||
| China Southern Air Logistics Co., Ltd. |
PRC June 8, 2018 | 55 | % | |||
The particulars of our principal associates and joint ventures as of December 31, 2021 are as follows:
Proportion of Ownership Interest Held by |
||||||||||||||||
| Name of Company |
Place and Date of Establishment/Operation |
Group Effective Interest |
Our Company |
Subsidiaries |
||||||||||||
| Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd. |
PRC October 28, 1989 | 50 | % | 50 | % | — | ||||||||||
| China Southern Airlines Group Finance Company Limited |
PRC June 28, 1995 | 48.59 | % | 41.81 | % | 6.78 | % | |||||||||
| Sichuan Airlines Co., Ltd. |
PRC August 28, 2002 | 39 | % | 39 | % | — | ||||||||||
| Southern Airlines Culture and Media Co., Ltd. |
PRC May 13, 2004 | 40 | % | 40 | % | — | ||||||||||
| MTU Maintenance Zhuhai Co., Ltd. |
PRC March 1, 2001 | 50 | % | 50 | % | — | ||||||||||
D. PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
For a discussion of our aircraft, see Item 4 “Information on our Company-History and development of our Company—Aircraft Acquisitions.”
Our headquarters in Guangzhou occupy an area of approximately 2,063,073 square meters of land and a total gross floor area of approximately 1,113,881 square meters. We lease land in Guangzhou on which our headquarters and other facilities are located from CSAH. We also lease from CSAH certain buildings mainly at Haikou, Wuhan, Nanyang, Shenyang, Dalian, Jilin, Harbin, Xinjiang and other PRC cities.
Our principal properties are located at our headquarters site and at our route bases. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our properties at our headquarters in Guangzhou and certain route bases as of the date hereof.
Land (in square meters) |
Building (in square meters) |
|||||||||||||||
Owned |
Leased |
Owned |
Leased |
|||||||||||||
| Guangzhou |
1,961,288 | 101,785 | 1,001,121 | 112,760 | ||||||||||||
| Shenzhen |
246,397 | — | 117,745 | 5,730 | ||||||||||||
| Zhuhai |
172,888 | 81,413 | 53,974 | 3,601 | ||||||||||||
| Changsha |
332,451 | 9,539 | 72,885 | 8,514 | ||||||||||||
| Haikou |
348,536 | — | 66,394 | 4,763 | ||||||||||||
| Wuhan |
284,518 | 38,082 | 84,797 | 23,783 | ||||||||||||
| Nanyang |
— | 1,855,907 | 13,353 | 33,635 | ||||||||||||
| Sanya |
96,343 | — | 41,410 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||
| Shenyang |
142,199 | 27,082 | 39,359 | 42,361 | ||||||||||||
| Dalian |
— | 158,240 | 65,227 | 38,496 | ||||||||||||
| Jilin |
134,488 | 46,056 | 108,096 | 7,167 | ||||||||||||
| Harbin |
30,969 | 250,934 | 68,960 | 35,931 | ||||||||||||
| Xinjiang |
18,246 | 526,900 | 167,139 | 15,300 | ||||||||||||
| Guangxi |
120,602 | — | 114,016 | — | ||||||||||||
| Beijing |
705,440 | — | 774,861 | — | ||||||||||||
| Shanghai |
42,292 | 5,333 | 94,043 | — | ||||||||||||
| Chengdu |
— | — | 1,855 | 3,944 | ||||||||||||
| Qingdao |
767 | |||||||||||||||
| Hefei |
— | — | 976 | — | ||||||||||||
| Sydney |
— | — | 1,151 | — | ||||||||||||
| Amsterdam |
455 | |||||||||||||||
| Xi’an |
54,277 | — | 4,364 | — | ||||||||||||
| Yunnan |
— | — | 2,003 | — | ||||||||||||
| Hangzhou |
— | — | 871 | — | ||||||||||||
| Nanjing |
1,704 | |||||||||||||||
52
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the properties of the subsidiaries named below as of the date hereof.
Land (in square meters) |
Building (in square meters) |
|||||||||||||||
Owned |
Leased |
Owned |
Leased |
|||||||||||||
| Xiamen Airlines |
550,149 | — | 874,920 | 17,396 | ||||||||||||
| Shantou Airlines |
262,324 | — | 88,868 | — | ||||||||||||
| Zhuhai Airlines |
136,201 | — | 73,338 | 2,390 | ||||||||||||
| Guizhou Airlines |
254,790 | — | 50,574 | — | ||||||||||||
| Chongqing Airlines |
82,449 | — | 68,681 | — | ||||||||||||
| Henan Airlines |
364,255 | — | 63,141 | — | ||||||||||||
| Zhuhai Xiang Yi Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. |
132,088 | — | 68,902 | 3,570 | ||||||||||||
We lease certain lands and buildings from CSAH, some of which are lacking adequate documentation evidencing CSAH’s rights to such land and buildings. As a consequence, the relevant lease agreements between CSAH and our Company for such land or building may not be registered with the relevant authorities. Lack of registration may affect the validity of such lease agreements against a third party There are certain other parcels of land and buildings owned or used by us that lack adequate documentation. Lack of adequate documentation for land use rights and ownership of buildings may impair our ability to dispose of or mortgage such land use rights and buildings. As of the date of this Annual report, the Group was in the process of applying for the land use right certificates and property title certificates in respect of the properties located in several cities in which the Group has interests and for which such certificates have not been granted. Our directors are of the opinion that the use of and the conduct of operating activities at the properties referred to above are not affected by the fact that we have not yet obtained the relevant land use right certificates and property title certificates.
.
On August 14, 2007, we entered into an assets transfer agreement with CSAH, pursuant to which we purchased from CSAH certain assets including 19 buildings with aggregate area of 21,962.25 square meters. These buildings were not with a property title certificate at the time of our purchase. CSAH undertook to obtain the relevant property title certificate for these buildings by December 30, 2019 and obtained the certificates for 12 of these buildings as of December 20, 2019. CSAH was unable to obtain the certificates for the rest of the buildings due to restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations. With respect to these buildings which do not have the property title certificates, CSAH undertakes to (i) apply for such certificates at its cost if the restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations no longer exist, and (ii) indemnify us if we suffer any losses resulted from third party claims arising from the lack of property title certificates of these buildings or from our ordinary business operation being affected by the defects of title of these buildings.
ITEM 4A. |
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
Not applicable.
53
ITEM 5. |
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS |
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs, included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires our Group to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the end of each reporting period, and the reported revenue and expenses during each reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Our critical accounting policies are set forth in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the following critical accounting policies involve the key accounting judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Impairment of long-lived assets (other than goodwill)
As discussed in Note 2(l)(iii) to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report, at the end of each reporting period, the Group tests for impairment for long-lived assets or cash-generating units (“CGUs”) (a portion of which related to aircraft and other flight equipment including rotables in property, plant and equipment, aircraft and engines in assets (“aircraft and related equipment”)) to determine whether the recoverable amounts have declined below the carrying amounts. If circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets or CGUs may not be recoverable, the assets or CGUs may be considered “impaired”, and an impairment loss may be recognized.
right-of-use
The recoverable amount of assets or CGUs are the higher of the fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. As the fair value of certain assets or CGUs may not be publicly available, the Group uses all readily available information in determining an amount that is a reasonable approximation of recoverable amount, including estimates based on reasonable and supportable assumptions for projections of traffic revenue and operating costs and discount rates. In particular, in determining the value in use of the Group’s aircraft and related equipment, significant judgments are required on the accounting estimates which are based on the assumptions relating to traffic revenue growth rates, operating costs growth rates and discount rates applied, among which, operating costs consist of jet fuel costs, landing and navigation fees, maintenance expenses, payroll and welfare.
Frequent flyer revenue
According to the frequent flyer award programs, the allocation of stand-alone selling price of the mileage awarded involves the estimation of the expected redemption rate. The expected redemption rate is estimated based on historical experience of mileage redemption, taking into consideration future mileage redemption patterns, which are associated with changes in the terms of mileage programs and customer behavior. Different estimates could significantly affect the estimated contract liabilities and the results of operations.
Income tax
Deferred tax assets are recognized related to operating loss carryforwards that will reduce future taxable income. The Group needs to make judgments and estimates in assessing the realizability of the operating loss carryforwards. Different estimates could significantly affect the deferred income tax assets and income tax expense in the year in which such determination is made.
54
Depreciation and amortization
As disclosed in Note 2(i) and Note 2(k) to the consolidated financial statements, components related to engine overhaul costs under property, plant and equipment and assets were depreciated on the units of production method based on flying hours. The expected flying hours of engines are based on the Group’s historical overhaul experience with similar engine models. Except for components related to engine overhaul costs, other property, plant and equipment and assets are depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives or lease term, which is shorter, after taking into account the estimated residual value. The useful lives are based on the Group’s historical experience with similar assets and take into account anticipated technological changes. The Group reviews the estimated useful lives of assets annually in order to determine the amount of depreciation and amortization expense to be recorded during any financial year. The depreciation and amortization expense for future periods is adjusted if there are significant changes from previous estimates.
right-of-use
right-of-use
Provision for major overhauls
As disclosed in Note 2(k) and Note 2(aa) to the consolidated financial statements, provision for the cost of major overhauls to fulfil the lease return conditions involves estimation of the expected overhaul cycles and overhaul costs, which are based on the historical experience of actual costs incurred for overhauls of airframes and engines of the same or similar types and current economic and airline-related developments. Different estimates could significantly affect the estimated provision and the results of operations.
Ticket breakage revenue
The Group recognizes, in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer, the breakage amount to which the Group expects to be entitled as ticket breakage revenue. Such portion is estimated based on the Group’s historical experiences, and the estimated revenue is recognized only to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal in cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Different estimates could significantly affect the ticket breakage revenue recognized in the current financial year.
Recently Pronounced International Financial Reporting Standards
Information relating to the recently pronounced IFRSs is presented in Note 59 to the consolidated financial statements.
Key Factors Affecting Results of Operations
Our results of operations are affected by the factors discussed below.
COVID-19
Pandemic The
COVID-19
pandemic, along with the measures governments and private organizations worldwide have implemented in an attempt to contain the spread of this pandemic, resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel since 2020. During the reporting period, the overseas pandemic has not been effectively controlled, and the pandemic has spread sporadically in many places of China. The demand for air travel was still relatively low, and the recovery of the passenger transport market is sluggish, which in turn has adversely affected our business, results of operations and financial condition. We responded proactively to the pandemic to mitigate its effects on our business by taking various measures, including reducing capacity, delaying the delivery of new aircraft, seizing market opportunities to adopt various measures to increase passenger and freight revenue, and implementing expense management to better align our cost with our reduced schedule. Despite these steps, the cost-saving measures we implemented since 2020 have not entirely offset the loss in revenues as a result of decreased ticket sales due to the pandemic. The Company recorded a loss in the operating results of RMB11,016 million for the year 2021. The continuing impact of the pandemic, and changes in passenger flight use that may result, are likely to have a significant effect on our business and operating results in the future. See Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors – “The outbreak and global spread of COVID-19
and the persistence of the resulting pandemic have had a material adverse effect on our business. The duration and severity of the pandemic, and similar public health threats or a large scale natural disaster we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business” and Item 4. Information of the Company – B. Business Overview – “Impact of the COVID-19
Pandemic” for additional discussion regarding the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on our operation results and financial condition. 55
Financial and operating leverage
Like most airlines, we are subject to a high degree of financial and operating leverage. A significant percentage of our operating expenses are fixed costs that do not vary proportionally with our yields or the load factors. These fixed costs include depreciation expense, jet fuel costs, landing and navigation fees, financing costs, operating lease payments, aircraft maintenance costs and labor costs for flight crew, cabin crew and ground personnel. Thus, a decrease in our yields or load factors could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, certain of these expenses, primarily financing costs and labor costs and depreciations do not vary proportionally with the number of flights flown. Thus, even a minor change in aircraft utilization rates may affect our results of operations. We are and will continue to be highly leveraged with substantial liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and, accordingly, the results of our operations are significantly affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, particularly for the U.S. dollar. A net exchange gain of RMB1,575 million was recorded in 2021, primarily attributable to the exchange difference arising from the lease liabilities denominated in USD along with the appreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar.
Political and economic conditions and regulations
A number of external factors, including political and economic conditions in China, tend to have a major impact on our performance. Our financial performance is also significantly affected by factors arising from operating in a regulated industry. As substantially all aspects of our airline operations are regulated by the PRC government, our operating revenue and expenses are directly affected by the PRC government’s policies with respect to domestic air fares, jet fuel prices and landing and navigation fees, among others. The nature and extent of airline competition and the ability of Chinese airlines to expand are also affected by CAAC’s control over route allocations. Any changes in the PRC government’s regulatory policies or any implementation of such policies could have a significant impact on our future operations and our ability to implement our operating strategy.
Foreign exchange risk
We finance our aircraft acquisitions mainly through leases or bank loans in U.S. dollars, and have a substantial amount of transactions and liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars in relation to our global purchases of jet fuel, lease and purchase of aviation equipment as well as major repairs, in addition to the landing fees of our international flights in the airports of other countries, and, as a result, our business will be affected by the Renminbi depreciation. Renminbi depreciation has caused exchange loss to our Group and increased our operating costs which are denominated in foreign currencies.
Seasonality
Our operating revenue is substantially dependent on the passenger and cargo traffic volume carried, which is subject to seasonal and other changes in traffic patterns, the availability of appropriate time slots for our flights and alternative routes, the degree of competition from other airlines and alternate means of transportation, as well as other factors that may influence passenger travel demand and cargo and mail volume. In particular, our airline revenue is generally higher in the second half of the year than in the first half of the year due to the greater demand for air travel during the summer months, although such traditional seasonal trends have been disrupted since 2020 due to the significantly reduced travel demand resulting from the
COVID-19
pandemic. In 2021, our airline revenue was higher in the first half of the year than in the second half of the year as there have been more outbreaks of COVID-19
which resulted in restriction on travel during the second half of the year. See “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors – Our results of operations tend to be volatile and fluctuate due to seasonality” for additional discussion. In addition, our future operations will be affected by, among other things, changes in the aviation market, the cost of jet fuel, aircraft acquisition and leasing costs, aircraft maintenance expenses,
take-off
and landing charges, wages, salaries and benefits and other operating expenses, foreign exchange rates and the rates of income taxes paid. 56
Certain Financial Information and Operating Data by Geographic Region
The following table sets forth certain financial information and operating data by geographic region for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Year ended December 31, |
2021 vs. 2020% increase |
2020 vs. 2019% increase |
||||||||||||||||||
Traffic |
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | (decrease) |
(decrease) |
|||||||||||||||
| RPK (million) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
148,223.63 | 140,135.20 | 195,239.18 | 5.77 | (28.22 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
152.48 | 239.14 | 3,258.71 | (36.24 | ) | (92.66 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
4,050.18 | 13,065.78 | 86,422.92 | (69.00 | ) | (84.88 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total |
152,426.29 | 153,440.11 | 284,920.82 | (0.66 | ) | (46.15 | ) | |||||||||||||
| RTK (million) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
14,389.54 | 13,720.92 | 18,897.97 | 4.87 | (27.39 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
25.48 | 30.19 | 312.80 | (15.60 | ) | (90.35 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
6,793.68 | 7,053.76 | 13,414.05 | (3.69 | ) | (47.42 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total |
21,208.71 | 20,804.88 | 32,624.82 | 1.94 | (36.23 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Passengers carried (thousand) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
97,717.02 | 93,911.34 | 128,706.50 | 4.05 | (27.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
147.75 | 213.22 | 2,480.54 | (30.71 | ) | (91.40 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
639.89 | 2,731.48 | 20,445.12 | (76.57 | ) | (86.64 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total |
98,504.66 | 96,856.04 | 151,632.16 | 1.70 | (36.12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Cargo and mail carried (thousand tons) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
765.34 | 817.51 | 1,052.13 | (6.38 | ) | (22.30 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Regional |
12.19 | 9.12 | 23.27 | 33.66 | (60.80 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| International |
664.42 | 634.19 | 688.16 | 4.77 | (7.84 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total |
1,441.95 | 1,460.83 | 1,763.57 | (1.29 | ) | (17.17 | ) | |||||||||||||
Capacity |
||||||||||||||||||||
| ASK (million) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
205,437.17 | 193,935.93 | 235,216.49 | 5.93 | (17.55 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
463.01 | 550.91 | 4,367.53 | (15.96 | ) | (87.39 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
8,021.64 | 20,235.13 | 104,477.84 | (60.36 | ) | (80.63 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total |
213,921.82 | 214,721.97 | 344,061.86 | (0.37 | ) | (37.59 | ) | |||||||||||||
| ATK (million) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
23,431.06 | 22,182.70 | 26,803.84 | 5.63 | (17.24 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
61.20 | 70.71 | 506.71 | (13.46 | ) | (86.04 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
10,025.45 | 11,638.87 | 19,123.06 | (13.86 | ) | (39.14 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total |
33,517.70 | 33,892.28 | 46,433.61 | (1.11 | ) | (27.01 | ) | |||||||||||||
57
| 2021 vs. 2020 increase (decrease) Percentage points |
2020 vs. 2019 increase (decrease) Percentage points |
|||||||||||||||||||
Load Factors |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger load factor (RPK/ASK) (%) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
72.15 | 72.26 | 83.00 | (0.11 | ) | (10.74 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Regional |
32.93 | 43.41 | 74.61 | (10.47 | ) | (31.20 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
50.49 | 64.57 | 82.72 | (14.08 | ) | (18.15 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Average |
71.25 | 71.46 | 82.81 | (0.21 | ) | (11.35 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Overall load factor (RTK/ATK) (%) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
61.41 | 61.85 | 70.50 | (0.44 | ) | (8.65 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Regional |
41.64 | 42.70 | 61.73 | (1.06 | ) | (19.03 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
67.76 | 60.61 | 70.15 | 7.16 | (9.54 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Average |
63.28 | 61.39 | 70.26 | 1.89 | (8.88 | ) | ||||||||||||||
2021 vs. 2020% increase |
2020 vs. 2019% increase |
|||||||||||||||||||
Yield |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Yield per RPK (RMB) |
(decrease |
) |
(decrease |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
0.46 | 0.41 | 0.52 | 12.20 | (21.15 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
1.46 | 1.05 | 0.75 | 39.05 | 40.00 | |||||||||||||||
| International |
1.61 | 0.96 | 0.39 | 67.71 | 146.15 | |||||||||||||||
| Average |
0.49 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 6.52 | (6.12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Yield per RTK (RMB) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
4.88 | 4.34 | 5.50 | 12.44 | (21.09 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
15.23 | 11.06 | 8.18 | 37.70 | 35.21 | |||||||||||||||
| International |
3.64 | 3.84 | 3.10 | (5.21 | ) | 23.87 | ||||||||||||||
| Average |
4.49 | 4.18 | 4.54 | 7.42 | (7.93 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Financial |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Passenger revenue (RMB million) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
68,656 | 57,793 | 101,955 | 18.80 | (43.32 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Regional |
223 | 251 | 2,437 | (11.16 | ) | (89.70 | ) | |||||||||||||
| International |
6,513 | 12,490 | 34,110 | (47.85 | ) | (63.38 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total |
75,392 | 70,534 | 138,502 | 6.89 | (49.07 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Cargo and mail revenue (RMB million) |
19,887 | 16,493 | 9,615 | 20.58 | 71.53 | |||||||||||||||
A. OPERATING RESULTS
The following discussion is based on our historical results of operations. Because of the factors discussed above, our results of operations may not be indicative of our future operating performance.
2021 compared with 2020
Net loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of RMB12,106 million was recorded in 2021 as compared to net loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of RMB10,847 million in 2020. The Group’s total operating revenue increased by RMB9,083 million or 9.81% from RMB92,561 million in 2020 to RMB101,644 million in 2021. Passenger load factor decreased by 0.21 percentage point from 71.46% in 2020 to 71.25% in 2021. Yield per RPK increased by 6.52% from RMB0.46 in 2020 to RMB0.49 in 2021. Yield per RTK increased by 7.42% from RMB4.18 in 2020 to RMB4.49 in 2021. Operating expenses increased by RMB7,229 million or 6.63% from RMB109,111 million in 2020 to RMB116,340 million in 2021. Mainly affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, operating loss of RMB9,929 million was recorded in 2021 as compared to operating loss of RMB11,864 million in 2020.
58
Operating Revenue
The following table sets forth operating revenue for the years indicated:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Operating revenue RMB million |
Percentage % |
Operating revenue RMB million |
Percentage % |
Change in revenue % |
||||||||||||||||
| Traffic revenue |
95,279 | 93.74 | 87,027 | 94.02 | 9.48 | |||||||||||||||
| Including: Passenger revenue |
75,392 | 70,534 | 6.89 | |||||||||||||||||
| – Domestic |
68,656 | 57,793 | 18.80 | |||||||||||||||||
| – Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan |
223 | 251 | (11.16 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| – International |
6,513 | 12,490 | (47.85 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Cargo and mail revenue |
19,887 | 16,493 | 20.58 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other operating revenue |
6,365 | 6.26 | 5,534 | 5.98 | 15.02 | |||||||||||||||
| Mainly including: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Commission income |
2,677 | 2,771 | (3.39 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Cargo handling income |
864 | 507 | 70.41 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ground services income |
326 | 210 | 55.24 | |||||||||||||||||
| General aviation income |
572 | 508 | 12.60 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hotel and tour operation income |
538 | 390 | 37.95 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenue |
101,644 | 100.00 | 92,561 | 100.00 | 9.81 | |||||||||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
Change in traffic revenue % |
||||||||||||||||||
Traffic revenue RMB million |
Percentage % |
Traffic revenue RMB million |
Percentage % |
|||||||||||||||||
| Passenger revenue |
75,392 | 79.13 | 70,534 | 81.05 | 6.89 | |||||||||||||||
| Cargo and mail revenue |
19,887 | 20.87 | 16,493 | 18.95 | 20.58 | |||||||||||||||
| Traffic revenue |
95,279 | 100.00 | 87,027 | 100.00 | 9.48 | |||||||||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Passenger revenue RMB million |
Percentage % |
Passenger revenue RMB million |
Percentage % |
Change in passenger revenue % |
||||||||||||||||
| Domestic |
68,656 | 91.07 | 57,793 | 81.94 | 18.80 | |||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan |
223 | 0.30 | 251 | 0.36 | (11.16 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| International |
6,513 | 8.63 | 12,490 | 17.70 | (47.85 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total |
75,392 | 100.00 | 70,534 | 100.00 | 6.89 | |||||||||||||||
Substantially all of the Group’s operating revenue is attributable to airlines transport operations. Traffic revenue accounted for 94.02% and 93.74% of the total operating revenue in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Passenger revenue and cargo and mail revenue accounted for 79.13% and 20.87%, respectively, of the total traffic revenue in 2021. During the reporting period, the Group’s total traffic revenue was RMB95,279 million, representing an increase of RMB8,252 million or 9.48% from prior year, mainly because of the increase in passenger revenue and in cargo revenue. The other operating revenue of the Group is mainly derived from commission income, hotel and tour operation income, general aviation income, cargo handling income and ground services income.
The increase in operating revenue was primarily due to an increase in passenger revenue by 6.89% from RMB70,534 million in 2020 to RMB 75,392 million in 2021. The total number of passengers carried increased by 1.70% from 96.86 million passengers in 2020 to 98.50 million passengers in 2021. RPKs decreased by 0.66% from 153,440 million in 2020 to 152,426 million in 2021.
59
Domestic passenger revenue, which accounted for 91.07% of the total passenger revenue in 2021, increased by 18.80% from RMB57,793 million in 2020 to RMB 68,656 million in 2021, mainly due to the maturity of COVID-19 prevention policies in the PRC and the number of passengers carried by domestic flight increased by 4.05% as compare to 2020. Domestic passenger traffic in RPKs increased by 5.77%, while passenger capacity in ASKs increased by 5.93%, resulting in a decrease in passenger load factor by 0.11 percentage point from 72.26% in 2020 to 72.15% in 2021. Yield per RPK increased by 12.20% from RMB0.41 in 2020 to RMB 0.46 in 2021.
Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan passenger revenue, which accounted for 0.30% of total passenger revenue, decreased by 11.16% from RMB251 million in 2020 to RMB 223 million in 2021 primarily due to the continuous impact of overseas COVID-19 pandemic and the restriction of cross border traveling policy not lifted yet. For Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan flights, passenger traffic in RPKs decreased by 36.24%, while passenger capacity in ASKs decreased by 15.96%, resulting in a decrease in passenger load factor by 10.47 percentage points from 43.41% in 2020 to 32.93% in 2021. Passenger yield per RPK increased by 39.05% from RMB1.05 in 2020 to RMB 1.46 in 2021.
International passenger revenue, which accounted for 8.64% of total passenger revenue, decreased by 47.85% from RMB12,490 million in 2020 to RMB6,513 million in 2021. For international flights, passenger traffic in RPKs decreased by 69.00%, while passenger capacity in ASKs decreased by 60.36%, resulting in a decrease in passenger load factor by 14.08 percentage points from 64.57% in 2020 to 50.49% in 2021. Passenger yield per RPK increased by 67.71% from RMB0.96 in 2020 to RMB1.61 in 2021.
Cargo and mail revenue, which accounted for 20.87% of the Group’s total traffic revenue and 19.57% of total operating revenue, increased by 20.58% from RMB16,493 million in 2020 to RMB19,887 million in 2021. The increase was mainly attributable to the increase in demand for freight, especially international freight, due to the impact of
COVID-19
pandemic. Other operating revenue increased by 15.02% from RMB5,534 million in 2020 to RMB6,365 million in 2021. The increase was primarily due to the increase of ground services income, general aviation income, hotel and tour operation income and cargo handling income.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses in 2021 amounted to RMB116,340 million, representing an increase of RMB7,229 million or 6.63% compared to that of 2020, as a result of the increase of various traffic expenses. Total operating expenses as a percentage of total operating revenue decreased from 117.88% in 2020 to 114.46% in 2021.
The table below sets forth our operating expenses for the years indicated:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses RMB million |
Percentage % |
Operating expenses RMB |
Percentage % |
Change in Operating expenses % |
||||||||||||||||
| Flight operation expenses |
45,569 | 39.17 | 37,545 | 34.41 | 21.37 | |||||||||||||||
| Mainly including: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Jet fuel costs |
25,505 | 18,797 | 35.69 | |||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft operating lease charges |
920 | 977 | (5.83 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Flight personnel payroll and welfare |
10,763 | 10,232 | 5.19 | |||||||||||||||||
| Maintenance expenses |
12,162 | 10.45 | 13,75 | 12.26 | (9.07 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Aircraft and transportation service expenses |
21,147 | 18.18 | 18,743 | 17.18 | 12.83 | |||||||||||||||
| Promotion and selling expenses |
4,705 | 4.04 | 5,007 | 4.59 | (6.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses |
3,663 | 3.15 | 4,088 | 3.75 | (10.4 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
24,241 | 20.84 | 24,590 | 22.53 | (1.42 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses on property, plant and equipment and right-of-use |
2,597 | 2.23 | 3,961 | 3.63 | (34.44 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Hotel and tour operation expenses |
423 | 0.36 | 317 | 0.29 | 33.44 | |||||||||||||||
| External air catering service expenses |
368 | 0.32 | 333 | 0.31 | 10.51 | |||||||||||||||
| Financial institution charges |
74 | 0.06 | 84 | 0.08 | (11.9 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Cargo handling expenses |
398 | 0.34 | 400 | 0.36 | (0.5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Others |
993 | 0.86 | 668 | 0.61 | 48.65 | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
116,340 | 100.00 | 109,111 | 100.00 | 6.63 | |||||||||||||||
60
Flight operation expenses, which accounted for 39.17% of total operating expenses, increased by 21.37% from RMB37,545 million in 2020 to RMB45,569 million in 2021, mainly resulting from an increase of jet fuel cost, which increased by 35.69% from RMB18,797 million in 2020 to RMB25,505 million in 2021. The increase in jet fuel cost was caused by the increase in jet fuel price in 2021.
Maintenance expenses, which accounted for 10.45% of total operating expenses, decreased by 9.07% from RMB13,375 million in 2020 to RMB12,162 million in 2021.
Aircraft and transportation service expenses, which accounted for 18.18% of total operating expenses, increased by 12.83% from RMB18,743 million in 2020 to RMB21,147 million in 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the amounts of
take-off
and landing as well as navigation fees and ground service related staff costs. Promotion and selling expenses, which accounted for 4.04% of total operating expenses, decreased by 6.03% from RMB5,007 million in 2020 to RMB4,705 million in 2021.
General and administrative expenses, which accounted for 3.15% of the total operating expenses, decreased by 10.40% from RMB4,088 million in 2020 to RMB3,663 million in 2021.
Depreciation and amortization, which accounted for 20.84% of the total operating expenses, stayed at the same level in amounts as compared to 2020.
Impairment losses on property, plant and equipment and assets, which accounted for 2.23% of the total operating expenses, decreased by 34.44% from RMB3,961 million in 2020 to RMB2,597 million in 2021, mainly due to the impairment provision for aircraft and related equipment.
right-of-use
Operating Loss
Operating loss of RMB9,929 million was recorded in 2021 as compared to an operating loss of RMB11,864 million in 2020.
Other Net Income
Other net income increased by RMB81 million from RMB4,686 million in 2020 to RMB4,767 million in 2021.
Interest Expense and Net Exchange Gain/(Loss)
Interest expense decreased by RMB 514 million from RMB6,716 million in 2020 to RMB 6,202 million in 2021, mainly due to the decrease in interest expense on lease liabilities .
Net exchange gain of RMB1,575 million was recorded in 2021, as compared with a net exchange gain of RMB3,485 million in 2020. Net exchange gain was primarily attributable to exchange difference arising from the lease liabilities denominated in USD, along with the appreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar
Income Tax
Income tax credit of RMB2,894 million was recorded in 2021 as compared to an income tax credit of RMB3,368 million in 2020, as the Company recorded operating loss as impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and recognized deferred income tax assets for tax losses. The effective tax rate in 2021 was 20.81% as compared to 22.17% in 2020.
61
2020 compared with 2019
For a discussion of the comparison of our results of operation between 2019 and 2020, please see the section headed “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects: A. Operating Results” in the Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 on the Form
20-F
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2021. B. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Generally, we meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements through cash from our operations, the proceeds from issuance of bonds, the proceeds of certain long-term and short-term bank loans and lease financing.
As of December 31, 2021, we had banking facilities with several PRC commercial banks for providing loan financing of up to approximately RMB295,683 million to our Group. As of December 31, 2021, approximately RMB204,051 million was unutilized. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our cash and cash equivalents were RMB21,456 million and RMB25,419 million, respectively.
Net cash generated from operating activities in 2021, 2020 and 2019 amounted to RMB7,688 million, RMB2,698 million and RMB31,175 million, respectively. Our Group’s operating cash inflows are primarily derived from the provision of air transportation and related services to customers. Operating cash outflows primarily are related to the recurring operating expenses, including flight operation, maintenance, aircraft and transportation services, and others. Net cash generated from operating activities increased from RMB2,698 million in 2020 to RMB7,688 million in 2021, primarily due to the improvement of operations in the reporting period.
Net cash used in investing activities in 2021, 2020 and 2019 were RMB15,820 million, RMB8,049 million and RMB14,427 million, respectively. Cash capital expenditures in 2021, 2020 and 2019 were RMB17,137 million, RMB11,061 million and RMB15,622 million respectively. Net cash used in investing activities increased from RMB8,049 million in 2020 to RMB15,820 million in 2021, primarily representing the increase in the purchase of aircrafts.
Net cash generated from financing activities were RMB4,186 million in 2021, as compared to net cash generated from financing activities of RMB28,945 million in 2020. Net cash inflow from borrowings and repayments of borrowings amounted to RMB25,324 million in 2021, while net cash inflow from borrowings and repayments of borrowings amounted to RMB30,085 million in 2020,. The borrowings were used for capital expenditures and general working capital. Capital element of lease rentals paid was RMB21,613 million in 2021 and RMB20,670 million in 2020, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the increase of aircraft acquisitions.
Net cash used in financing activities amounted to RMB21,833 million in 2019. Net cash outflow from borrowings and repayments of borrowings amounted to RMB3,354 million in 2019. The borrowings were used for capital expenditures and general working capital. Repayment of capital leases amounted to RMB17,784 million in 2019, resulting from the increase of aircraft acquisitions under capital leases.
On September 27, 2018, we issued 1,578,073,089 A shares in total to CSAH at the issue price of RMB6.02 per A Share pursuant to the subscription agreement dated June 26, 2017 entered into between CSAH and us (as amended by the supplemental agreement dated September 19, 2017). The gross proceeds and net proceeds raised from such issuance are approximately RMB9,500 million and RMB9,488 million respectively, which were used for introducing aircraft and installation of lightweight seats for aircraft. As of December 31, 2020, the proceeds from this issuance have been fully utilized.
On February 21, 2019, we issued the first tranche of 2019 corporate bonds with an aggregate nominal value of RMB3,000 million at an interest rate of 3.45% per annum. On May 16, 2019, we issued the second tranche of 2019 corporate bonds with an aggregate nominal value of RMB2,000 million at an interest rate of 3.72% per annum. On November 20, 2019, Xiamen Airlines issued the first tranche of 2019 corporate bonds with an aggregate nominal value of RMB1,500 million at an interest rate of 3.58% per annum. On March 16, 2020, Xiamen Airlines issued the first tranche of 2020 corporate bonds with an aggregate nominal value of RMB1,000 million at an interest rate of 2.95% per annum. The 2019 and 2020 corporate bonds mature in three years. The proceeds from the issuance of the corporate bonds will be used to replenish working capital and repay corporate debts.
62
In November 2020, we received CSRC approval on our proposed public issuance of short-term corporate bonds to professional investors having a gross minimal value not exceeding RMB10,000 million. The short-term corporate bonds will be issued in multiple tranches. The issuance of the first tranche must be completed within 12 months from the date of the approval and the issuance of the remaining tranches must be completed within 24 months from the date of the approval. The proceeds from the issuance of the short-term corporate bonds will be used to replenish working capital and repay corporate debts.
In October 2020, we issued a total of 160,000,000 bonds convertible to A Shares, with a nominal value of RMB100 each and an aggregate value amounting to RMB16,000 million. The convertible bonds were issued at nominal value and the initial conversion price was RMB6.24 per share. The bonds have a term of six years from the date of the issuance, which commences from October 15, 2020 and ends on October 14, 2026. The bonds bear an interest at the rate of 0.2% in the first year, 0.4% in the second year, 0.6% in the third year, 0.8% in the fourth year, 1.5% in the fifth year and 2.0% in the sixth year. If the conversion rights are not exercised in five transaction days after maturity, the bond will be redeemed at 106.5% of par value (including the interest for the sixth year). As of December 31, 2021, a total of 101,034,070 bonds had been converted into 1,619,135,633 A Shares.
The use of proceeds utilized was consistent with the intended use of proceeds as previously disclosed.
| Gross proceeds from the A Shares Issuance (RMB) |
Intended use of the proceeds as previously disclosed |
Utilized proceeds as of December 31, 2021 (RMB) |
Unutilized proceeds as of December 31, 2021 (RMB) |
Expected timeline for the use of unutilized proceeds | ||||||||
| 16,000,000,000.00 |
Purchasing aircraft and aviation equipment and maintenance projects |
4,904,844,932.90 | 5,674,758,986.82 | On or before December 31, 2022 | ||||||||
| Introduction of spare engines | 589,584,801.07 | 10,415,198.93 | On or before December 31, 2022 | |||||||||
| Supplementing working capital | 4,800,000,000.00 | — | Not applicable | |||||||||
Note: The total amounts of funds raised from 2020 Public Issuance of A Share Convertible Bonds were RMB16,000,000,000.00. After deducting the underwriting expenses of RMB17,691,726.00 (including VAT), the net cash subscription amount actually received was RMB15,982,308,274.00. After deducting other issuance expenses of RMB2,704,354.28 (including VAT) paid by the Company from the net cash subscription amounts, the actual net proceeds raised was RMB15,979,603,919.72.
On April 15, 2020, the Company issued 608,695,652 H shares in total to Nan Lung at the issue price of HK$5.75 per H share pursuant to the subscription agreement dated October 30, 2019 entered into between the Company and Nan Lung. The net price of each new H share issued under the H Share Issuance was HK$5.74 per H share. The use of proceeds utilized was consistent with the intended use of proceeds as previously disclosed.
Gross proceeds and the use of proceeds from H Shares Issuance:
| Gross proceeds from H Shares Issuance (HKD) |
Intended use of the proceeds as previously disclosed |
Utilized proceeds as of December 31, 2021 (denominated in RMB) |
Unutilized proceeds as of December 31, 2021 (denominated in RMB) |
Expected timeline for the use of unutilized proceeds | ||||||||
| 3,499,999,999 |
Supplement of general working capital | 3,499,999,999 | — | Not applicable | ||||||||
Note: The total amounts of funds raised from 2020 Non-public Issuance of H shares were HKD3,499,999,999, equivalent to RMB3,178,664,999.09 based on the middle exchange rate of 1:0.90819 of HKD dollar against RMB on April 15 2020. After deducting the issuance expenses of RMB3,570,544.56, the net proceeds raised was RMB3,175,094,454.53.
On June 18, 2020, the Company issued 2,453,434,457 A Shares in total to CSAH at the issue price of RMB5.21 per A Share pursuant to the subscription agreement dated October 30, 2019 entered into between the Company and CSAH. The net price of each new A Share issued under the A Share Issuance was RMB5.21 per A Share. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company published on the website of the Stock Exchange on June 18, 2020. The use of proceeds utilized was consistent with the intended use of proceeds as previously disclosed.
Gross proceeds and the use of proceeds from A Shares Issuance:
| Gross proceeds from the A Shares Issuance (RMB) |
Intended use of the proceeds as previously disclosed |
Utilized proceeds as of December 31, 2021 (RMB) |
Unutilized proceeds as of December 31, 2021 (RMB) |
Expected timeline for the use of unutilized proceeds | ||||||||
| 12,782,393,520.97 |
Procurement of aircraft | 7,195,237,293.60 | 2,080,848,019.82 | On or before June 30, 2022 | ||||||||
| Repayment of the Company’s borrowings |
3,500,000,000.00 | — | Not applicable | |||||||||
Note: The total amounts of funds raised from 2020 Non-public Issuance of A Shares was RMB12,782,393,520.97. After deducting the underwriting expenses of RMB2,000,000.00 (including VAT), the net cash subscription amount actually received was RMB12,780,393,520.97. After deducting other issuance expenses of RMB4,308,207.55 (including VAT) paid by the Company from the net cash subscription amounts, the actual net proceeds raised was RMB12,776,085,313.42.
As of December 31, 2021, our aggregate long-term borrowings and lease liabilities (including borrowings and lease liabilities due within one year) were RMB149,190 million, among which RMB28,892 million, RMB37,840 million, RMB26,044 million, RMB13,575 million and RMB42,839 million, respectively, is due in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and thereafter. Lease liabilities are mainly denominated in U.S. dollars, Euro and Japanese Yen. In the normal course of business, we are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange. Our exposure to foreign currency exchange primarily resulted from our foreign currency liabilities. Depreciation or appreciation of the Renminbi against foreign currencies affects our results significantly because our foreign currency liabilities generally exceed our foreign currency assets. We are not able to hedge our foreign currency exposure effectively other than by retaining our foreign currency denominated earnings and receipts to the extent permitted by the SAFE, or subject to certain restrictive conditions, entering into forward foreign exchange contracts with authorized banks.
As of December 31, 2021, our short-term bank loans amounted to RMB25,116 million, and our weighted average interest rate on short-term bank loans was 2.20% per annum. As of December 31, 2021, our outstanding ultra-short-term financing bills were RMB24,710 million. The primary use of the proceeds of our short-term bank loans and ultra-short-term financing bills is to finance working capital and capital expenditure needs. We have generally been able to arrange short-term borrowings with domestic banks in China as necessary and believe we can continue to obtain them based on our well-established relationships with various lenders.
As of December 31, 2021, the amounts of our lease liabilities were RMB102,749 million, predominately for aircraft, out of which RMB20,805 million, RMB19,229 million, RMB15,484 million, RMB12,498 million and RMB34,733 million, respectively, is due in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and thereafter.
63
As of December 31, 2021, we had a working capital deficit of RMB73,124 million, as compared to a working capital deficit of RMB56,696 million as of December 31, 2020. Historically, we operated in a negative working capital position, relying on cash inflow from operating activities, proceeds from ultra short-term financing bills and short-term bank loans to meet our short-term liquidity and working capital needs. In 2020, 2021 and thereafter, our liquidity is primarily dependent on our ability to maintain adequate cash inflows from operations to meet our debt obligations as they fall due, and our ability to obtain adequate external financing to meet our committed future capital expenditure. As of December 31, 2021, we had banking facilities with several PRC commercial banks for providing loan financing up to approximately RMB295,683 million, of which approximately RMB204,051 million was unutilized, whereas in 2020, we received loan financing up to approximately RMB315,452 million, of which RMB228,188 million was unutilized.
As we are subject to a high degree of operating leverage, a minor decrease in our yield and/or load factor could result in a significant decrease in our operating revenue and hence our operating cash flows. This could occur when competition among Chinese airlines increases or where PRC aviation demand decreases. Similarly, a minor increase in the jet fuel prices, particularly in the domestic market, could result in a significant increase in our operating expenses and hence a significant decrease in our operating cash flows. This could be caused by fluctuations in supply and demand in international oil market. We currently comply with the financial covenants attached to certain of our borrowings. Nevertheless, as we are subject to a high degree of financial leverage, an adverse change in our operating cash flows could adversely affect our financial health and hence weaken our ability to obtain additional loans and lease facilities and to renew our short-term bank loans facilities as they fall due.
As of December 31, 2021, we had capital commitments as follows:
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 and onwards |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of aircraft and related equipment |
33,165 | 15,093 | 6,404 | — | — | 54,662 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Others |
3,556 | 2,301 | 1,364 | 1,214 | 1,146 | 9,581 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital commitments |
36,721 | 17,394 | 7,768 | 1,214 | 1,146 | 64,243 | ||||||||||||||||||
Others mainly represent airport and office facilities and equipment, overhaul and maintenance bases and training facilities.
As of December 31, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents amounted to RMB21,456 million, and 5% of which were denominated in U.S. Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars, Euro, Japanese Yen and other foreign currencies.
In view of the unutilized bank facilities of RMB204,051 million, we expect that we will have sufficient funding sources to meet our cash requirements in the foreseeable future.
C. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES, ETC.
None.
D. TREND INFORMATION
Other than as disclosed in the foregoing disclosures and elsewhere in this Annual Report, we are not aware of any other trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the year ended December 31, 2021, that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our net revenue, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause our disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.
E. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Not applicable.
64
ITEM 6. |
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES |
A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information concerning our directors, senior management and supervisors. There were certain changes in our directors, senior management and supervisors as of April 22, 2022, details of which are set forth below.
Name |
Position |
Gender |
Age | |||
| Ma Xulun (1) |
Chairman of the Board, Executive Director, President | Male | 57 | |||
| Han Wensheng |
Executive Director, Vice Chairman of the Board, President | Male | 55 | |||
| *Zheng Fan |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 66 | |||
| *Tan Jinsong |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 57 | |||
| *Jiao Shuge |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 56 | |||
| Liu Changle |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 70 | |||
| Gu Huizhong |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 65 | |||
| Guo Wei |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 59 | |||
| Yan Andrew Y |
Independent Non-executive Director |
Male | 64 | |||
| *Li Jiashi |
Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, Supervisor | Male | 60 | |||
| Ren Jidong (2) |
Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, Supervisor, Executive Vice President | Male | 57 | |||
| Lin Xiaochun |
Supervisor | Male | 50 | |||
| *Mao Juan |
Supervisor | Female | 49 | |||
| Yang Bin |
Supervisor | Male | 53 | |||
| Zhang Zhengrong |
Executive Vice President | Male | 59 | |||
| Luo Laijun |
Executive Vice President | Male | 50 | |||
| Wu Yingxiang |
Executive Vice President | Female | 48 | |||
| Yao Yong |
Executive Vice President, Chief Accountant and Chief Financial Officer | Male | 52 | |||
| Cheng Yong |
Executive Vice President | Male | 60 | |||
| Wang Zhixue |
Executive Vice President | Male | 61 | |||
| *Li Tongbin (3) |
Executive Vice President and Chief Engineer | Male | 60 | |||
| Su Liang |
Chief Economist | Male | 60 | |||
| Chen Weihua Li Shaobin |
Chief Legal Adviser Chief Training Officer |
Male Male |
55 58 | |||
| Xie Bing |
Company Secretary, Secretary to the Board | Male | 48 | |||
| Feng Huanan |
COO Flight Safety | Male | 59 | |||
| Luo Minghao |
Chief Pilot | Male | 59 | |||
| Zhu Hailong |
Chief Operation Officer | Male | 58 | |||
| Wu Rongxin |
Chief Engineer | Male | 50 |
| (1) | Ma Xulun ceased to be President since 22 June 2021. |
| (2) | Ren Jidong ceased to be Executive Vice President since 29 Oct 2021. |
| (3) | Li Tongbin ceased to be Executive Vice President and Chief Engineer since 7 Jan 2022. |
Notes: * represents the personnel has already resigned as at the end of the reporting period.
65
Directors
Ma
Xulun
Han Wensheng
Liu Changle,
66
Gu Huizhong
Guo Wei,
Yan Andrew Y
Non-executive
Director of 360 DigiTech, Inc. In addition, Mr. Yan was a Director of TCL Corporation, Blue Focus Communication Group, Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Welltech Automation Co., Ltd., and an Independent Non-executive Director of Guodian Technology & Environment Group Corporation Limited in the last three years. Mr. Yan has been serving as an Independent Non-executive Director of the Company since April 2021. Supervisors
Ren Jidong
67
Lin Xiaochun
Yang Bin
Senior Management
Zhang Zhengrong
68
Luo Laijun
Wu Yingxiang
Yao Yong
69
Cheng Yong
Wang Zhixue
Su Liang
Chen Weihua
70
Li Shaobin
Xie Bing
Feng Huanan
Luo Minghao
71
Zhu Hailong
on-job
bachelor’s degree. Mr. Zhu holds the title of First Class Pilot and a member of the Chinese Communist Party. He began his career in January 1983. He was a pilot of the 15th Fleet of CAAC, a pilot in the Flight Department of CSA Hainan, vice-captain of the Second Squadron, leader of the B737 Squadron, the deputy general manager and general manager of the Flight Department. He served as general manager’s assistant and general manager of Haikou Flight Department in Hainan Branch of the Company. He served as deputy general manager and a member of the Party Committee of Shantou Airlines Company Limited in June 2007; deputy general manager, manager of the Flight Department and a member of the Party Committee in Hubei Branch of the Company in March 2013; deputy general manager and a member of the Party Committee in Shenzhen Branch of the Company in September 2015; deputy general manager and Deputy Party Secretary of Guangzhou Flight Division of the Company in February 2018; and the head of Chief Flight Corps Team and Deputy Party Secretary of the Company in May 2018. Since December 2020, he has been the Chief Operation Officer of the Company. Wu Rongxin
None of our Directors, supervisors or members of our senior management was selected or chosen as a result of any arrangement or understanding with any major shareholders, customers or suppliers. None of the above Directors or Supervisors, senior management of our Company has any family relationship with any Directors, Supervisors, senior management, substantial shareholders of our Company. None of our directors or senior management owns any shares or options in our Group as of April 22, 2022.
B. COMPENSATION
The aggregate compensation paid to all Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management for 2021 was RMB14.88 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we paid an aggregate of approximately RMB1.85 million on behalf of our executive Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management pursuant to the pension scheme and the retirement plans operated by various municipal and provincial governments in which we participate.
72
Details of the remuneration of Directors and Supervisors for the year ended December 31, 2021 are set out below:
Directors’ fees RMB’000 |
Salaries, allowances and benefits in kind RMB’000 |
Retirement scheme contributions RMB’000 |
Total RMB’000 |
|||||||||||||
| Executive Directors |
||||||||||||||||
| Ma Xulun |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Han Wensheng |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Independent Non-executive Directors |
||||||||||||||||
| Liu Changle |
133 | — | — | 133 | ||||||||||||
| Gu Huizhong |
153 | — | — | 153 | ||||||||||||
| Guo Wei |
133 | — | — | 133 | ||||||||||||
| Yan Andrew Y |
133 | — | — | 133 | ||||||||||||
| Zheng Fan |
20 | — | — | 20 | ||||||||||||
| Tan Jinsong |
50 | — | — | 50 | ||||||||||||
| Jiao Shuge |
50 | — | — | 50 | ||||||||||||
| Supervisors |
||||||||||||||||
| Ren Jidong (1) |
— | 667 | 131 | 798 | ||||||||||||
| Lin Xiaochun |
— | 655 | 147 | 802 | ||||||||||||
| Yang Bin |
— | 294 | 25 | 319 | ||||||||||||
| Li Jiashi |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Mao Juan |
— | 478 | 134 | 612 | ||||||||||||
| Total |
672 | 2,094 | 437 | 3,203 | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Ren Jidong did not receive any remuneration for his service in the capacity of supervisor of the Company but received salary for his service as a member of senior management in 2021. He also held management position in CSAH and his salary for his services was borne by CSAH since November 2021. |
C. BOARD PRACTICES
Each director’s service contract with our Company or any of its subsidiaries provides prorated monthly salary upon termination of employment in accordance with his contract. The director is entitled to paid leave under his contract. The term of office of a director is three years. The term of the ninth session of our Board will expire on April 29, 2024. A director may serve consecutive terms upon
re-election.
Aviation Safety Committee
The Aviation Safety Committee comprises three members and is chaired by Ma Xulun, an executive director. The other two members are Han Wensheng as an executive director and Guo Wei as an independent
non-executive
director. The Aviation Safety Committee held two meetings in 2021, which were held in accordance with its rules and procedures, and considered a report on the safety production and operation of the Company, safety production and operation in the first half of the year and the work plan for the second half of the year.
Strategic and Investment Committee
The Strategic and Investment Committee comprises three members, Ma Xulun as an executive director, Liu Changle as an independent
non-executive
Director and Gu Huizhong as an independent non-executive
Director. Ma Xulun is the Chairman of the Strategic and Investment Committee. 73
The Strategic and Investment Committee held one meeting in 2021 in accordance with its rules and procedures, and considered a report on implementation of the major strategic investment matters of the Company.
Audit and Risk Management Committee
The Audit and Risk Management Committee is appointed by our Board and consists of three independent
non-executive
directors. The current members of the Audit and Risk Management Committee are Gu Huizhong, Guo Wei and Yan Andrew Y. Gu Huizhong is the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Management Committee. A member may serve consecutive terms upon re-election.
At least once a year, the committee is required to meet with our Company’s external auditors without any executive members of our Board in attendance. The Audit and Risk Management Committee held seven meetings in 2021, which were attended by all members. The primary responsibilities of the Audit and Risk Management Committee are to consider the appointment of auditors, review the Company’s periodical reports, related party transactions, and hedging and debt financing plans, review the efficiency of risk management and internal control system of the Company and review the internal audit plan. In addition, the Audit and Risk Management Committee also examines the effectiveness of our Company’s risk management internal control system, which involves regular reviews of the internal controls of various corporate structures and business processes on a continuous basis, and takes into account their respective potential risks and severity, in order to ensure the effectiveness of our Company’s business operations and the realization of our corporate objectives and strategies. The scope of such examinations and reviews includes finance, operations, regulatory compliance and risk management. The Audit and Risk Management Committee also reviews our Company’s internal audit plan, and submits relevant reports and concrete recommendations to our Board on a regular basis.
Our Company has an internal audit department which reviews procedures in all major financial and operational activities. This department is led by the head of internal audit.
Remuneration and Assessment Committee
The Remuneration and Assessment Committee is comprised of three members. Currently, the Remuneration and Assessment Committee is chaired by independent
non-executive
director Guo Wei with the executive director Han Wensheng and the independent non-executive
director Gu Huizhong as members. The term of office of each member is three years. A member may serve consecutive terms upon re-election.
The Remuneration and Assessment Committee held two meetings in 2021, which were attended by all members. The Remuneration and Assessment Committee reviewed the resolutions including the performance contract for senior management and remuneration of senior management. The responsibilities of the Remuneration and Assessment Committee are to make recommendations on the remuneration policy and structure for directors and senior management of our Company, to establish regular and transparent procedures on remuneration policy development and improvement and submit our Company’s “Administrative Measures on Remuneration of Directors” and “Administrative Measures on Remuneration of Senior Management”. In particular, the Remuneration and Assessment Committee has the duty to ensure that the directors or any of their associates shall not be involved in the determination of their own remuneration packages.
The Remuneration and Assessment Committee consults, when appropriate, the Chairman and/or the President about its proposals relating to the remuneration of other executive directors. The Remuneration and Assessment Committee is also responsible for assessing the performance of executive directors and approving the terms of the executive directors’ service contracts. The Remuneration and Assessment Committee performed all its responsibilities under its terms of reference in 2021.
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee was established on June 28, 2007. Before that, nomination of directors and other senior management was mainly undertaken by our Board. According to the Articles of Association, our Board has the authority to appoint from time to time any person as director to fill a vacancy or as additional director. In selecting candidate directors, our Board focuses on their qualifications, technical skills, experience (in particular, the experience in the industry in which we operate in case of candidates of executive directors) and their contributions to the Board.
74
As the date of this Annual report, the Nomination Committee consisted of three members, including Gu Huizhong, an independent
non-executive
director, as the chairman of the committee, and Ma Xulun, an executive director, and Liu Changle, an independent non-executive
director, as members. The responsibilities of the Nomination Committee are to make recommendations to our Board in respect of the size and composition of our Board based on the operational activities, assets and shareholding structure of our Company; study the selection criteria and procedures of directors and executives and give advice to our Board; identify qualified candidates for directors and executives; and investigate and propose candidates for directors and managers and other senior management members to our Board. In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, as well as the provisions of our Articles of Association, the Nomination Committee studies and determines the selection criteria, procedures and terms of office for directors and managers with reference to our Company’s actual situation. Any resolution made in this regard shall be filed with and proposed to our Board for approval.
The Nomination Committee held two meetings in 2021 and nominated persons including Mr. Yao Yong as the Executive Vice President, Chief Accountant and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Mr. Han Wen Sheng as the President of the Company.
D. EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, we had 103,876, 100,431 and 98,098 employees, respectively. The table below sets forth the number of our employees by activity as of December 31, 2021. During 2021, we employed 20,180 temporary employees.
Below is a breakdown of persons employed by main category of activity.
Employees |
% of Total |
|||||||
| Pilots |
11,305 | 12 | % | |||||
| Flight attendants |
21,216 | 22 | % | |||||
| Maintenance personnel |
15,979 | 16 | % | |||||
| Passenger transportation personnel |
7,887 | 8 | % | |||||
| Cargo transportation personnel |
5,572 | 6 | % | |||||
| Ground service personnel |
11,475 | 12 | % | |||||
| Flight operation officers |
2,319 | 2 | % | |||||
| Flight security guards |
3,685 | 4 | % | |||||
| Information system personnel |
1,788 | 2 | % | |||||
| Financial personnel |
1,782 | 2 | % | |||||
| Others |
15,090 | 15 | % | |||||
| Total |
98,098 | 100 | % | |||||
Our employees are members of a trade union organized under the auspices of the
All-China
Federation of Trade Unions, which is established in accordance with the Trade Union Law of China. One representative of our Company labor union currently serves on the Supervisory Committee of our Company. Each of our subsidiaries has its own trade union. We have not experienced any strikes, slowdowns or labor disputes that have interfered with our operations, and we believe that our relations with our employees are good. 75
All employees of our Group receive cash remuneration and certain adjustment. In addition to cash compensation, our contract employees receive certain
non-cash
benefits. Cash remuneration consists of salaries, bonuses and cash subsidies provided by our Group. Salaries are determined in accordance with the national basic wage standards. The total amount of wages payable by our Group to our employees is subject to a maximum limit based on the profitability of our Group and other factors. Bonuses are based on the profitability of our Group. Cash subsidies are intended as a form of cost-of-living
non-cash
benefits, including housing, education and health services, and our temporary employees also receive certain health services, housing fund and education. Employee benefits
Employee benefits are all forms of considerations given and other related expenditures incurred in exchange for services rendered by employees. Except for termination benefits, employee benefits are recognized as a liability in the period in which the associated services are rendered by employees, with a corresponding increase in cost of relevant assets or expenses in the current period.
Retirement benefits
Our employees participate in several defined contribution retirement schemes organized separately by the PRC municipal and provincial governments in regions where our major operations are located. We are required to contribute to these schemes at rates ranging from 14% to 16% of salary costs, including certain allowances, in 2021, and from 14% to 16% in 2020. A member of the retirement schemes is entitled to pension benefits from the Local Labor and Social Security Bureau upon his/her retirement. The retirement benefit obligations of all retired staff of our Group are assumed by these schemes. We, at our sole discretion, have made certain welfare subsidy payments to these retirees.
In 2014, our Company and our major subsidiaries joined a newly defined contribution retirement scheme that was implemented by CSAH. The annual contribution to the Pension Scheme is based on a fixed specified percentage of prior year’s annual wage. There will be no further obligation beyond the annual contribution according to the Pension Scheme. The total contribution into the Pension Scheme in 2021 was approximately RMB998 million.
Housing fund and other social insurances
We contribute on a monthly basis to housing funds organized by municipal and provincial governments based on certain percentages of the salaries of employees. Our liability in respect of these funds is limited to the contributions payable in each year.
We also pay cash housing subsidies on a monthly basis to eligible employees. The monthly cash housing subsidies are reflected in the consolidated income statement.
Termination benefits
When we terminate the employment relationship with employees before the employment contracts expire, or provide compensation as an offer to encourage employees to accept voluntary redundancy, a provision for the termination benefits provided is recognized in the consolidated income statement when both of the following conditions are satisfied:
| • | We have a formal plan for the termination of employment or made an offer to employees for voluntary redundancy, which will be implemented shortly; and |
| • | We are not allowed to withdraw from termination plan or redundancy offer unilaterally. |
Workers’ Compensation
There is no workers’ compensation or other similar compensation scheme under the Chinese labor and employment system. As required by Chinese law, however, we, subject to certain conditions and limitations, pay for the medical expenses of any contract employee who suffers a work-related illness, injury or disability, and continue to pay the full salary of, and provide all standard cash subsidies to, such employee during the term of such illness, injury or disability. We also pay for certain medical expenses of our temporary employees.
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E. SHARE OWNERSHIP
None of our directors or senior management owns any shares or options in our Company as of April 22, 2022.
ITEM 7. |
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The table below sets forth information regarding the ownership of our share capital as of March 31, 2022 by all persons who are known to us to be the beneficial owners of 5.0% or more of each class of our voting securities.
| Title of Shares |
Identity of Person or Group |
Beneficially Owned (1) |
Percentage of the Respective Class of Shares (2) |
Percentage of Total Shares (2) |
||||||||||
| A shares |
CSAH(3) | 8,600,897,508 | 67.87 | % | 50.75 | % | ||||||||
| H shares |
HKSCC Nominees Limited | 1,750,798,857 | 40.95 | % | 10.33 | % | ||||||||
| H shares |
CSAH (4) | 2,279,983,577 | 53.33 | % | 13.45 | % | ||||||||
| H shares |
Nan Lung Holding Limited | 2,279,983,577 | 53.33 | % | 13.45 | % | ||||||||
| A shares |
China National Aviation Fuel Group Corporation | 353,261,857 | 2.79 | % | 2.08 | % | ||||||||
| A shares |
Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited | 612,534,745 | 4.83 | % | 3.61 | % | ||||||||
| H shares |
American Airlines Group Inc.(5) | 270,606,272 | 6.33 | % | 1.60 | % | ||||||||
| (1) | Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. |
| (2) | Percentage of A Shares and percentage of H Shares is based on 12,673,302,464 A Shares and 4,275,144,849 H Shares, respectively, issued as of March 31, 2022. Percentage of total shares is based on 16,948,447,313 shares issued as of March 31, 2022. |
| (3) | CSAH subscribed for 101,027,580 A Share convertible bonds that were issued by the Company on October 15, 2020. On June 18, 2021, all of the A Share convertible bonds held by CSAH were converted into A Shares. |
| (4) | CSAH was deemed to be interested in an aggregate of 2,279,983,577 H Shares through its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong, of which 31,150,000 H Shares were directly held by Perfect Lines (Hong Kong) Limited (representing approximately 0.73% of its then total issued H Shares) and 2,248,833,577 H Shares were directly held by Nan Lung (representing approximately 52.60% of its then total issued H Shares). As Perfect Lines (Hong Kong) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nan Lung, Nan Lung was also deemed to be interested in the 31,150,000 H Shares held by Perfect Lines (Hong Kong) Limited. |
| (5) | American Airlines Group Inc. was deemed to be interested in 270,606,272 H Shares by virtue of its 100% control over American Airlines. |
Shareholders of H Shares and A Shares enjoy the same voting rights with respect to each share. None of our major shareholders has voting rights that differ from the voting rights of other shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangement which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of our Company.
As of December 31, 2021, there were 55 registered holders of 1,702,871 American Depositary Shares in the U.S., consisting of 1.99% of our outstanding H shares. Since certain of the ADSs are held by nominees, the above number may not be representative of the actual number of U.S. beneficial holders of ADSs or the number of ADSs beneficially held by U.S. persons.
Our Company is currently a majority-owned subsidiary of CSAH, which is an entity wholly-owned by the Chinese government.
77
B. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
CSAH is our controlling shareholder. We entered into certain transactions with CSAH and its affiliates in the year ended December 31, 2021. We also continued to carry out existing continuing transactions with CSAH and its affiliates in the year ended December 31, 2021. In particular, we believe the following arrangements are material to our operations. We believe that these arrangements have been entered into by us in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with the agreements governing such transactions. For a detailed description of our related party transactions, please see Note 50 to the consolidated financial statements.
Arrangements with CSAH
Trademark License Agreement
We entered into a
ten-year
trademark license agreement with CSAH on May 22, 1997, pursuant to which CSAH acknowledged that we have the right to use the name “南方航空(China Southern)” and “中国南方航空(China Southern Airlines)” in both Chinese and English, and grants us a renewable and royalty free license to use the kapok logo on a worldwide basis in connection with our airline and airline-related businesses. Unless CSAH gives a written notice of termination three months before the expiration of the agreement, the agreement will be automatically renewed for another ten-year
term. In May 2017, the trademark license agreement entered into between us and CSAH was automatically renewed for ten years. Leases
We (as lessee) and CSAH or its subsidiaries (as lessor) entered into lease agreements as follows:
| (1) | We and CSAH entered into an indemnification agreement dated May 22, 1997 in which CSAH agreed to indemnify us against any loss or damage caused by or arising from any challenge of, or interference with, our right to use certain lands and buildings. |
| (2) | We and CSAH entered into an asset lease framework agreement on 21 December, 2020 for a term of three years commencing from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023 to renew lease transactions originally covered under the asset lease framework agreement dated January 26, 2018. Pursuant to such asset lease framework agreement, CSAH agreed to (i) lease certain properties, parking lots and equipment assets, such as machinery equipment, transportation equipment and electronic equipment located in various cities, such as Nanyang, Wuhan, Changsha, Beijing, Urumqi, Guangzhou and Zhanjiang held by CSAH or its subsidiaries to our Company for the purposes of civil aviation and related businesses of our Company; and (ii) lease certain lands located in Nanyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Zhanjiang by leasing the land use rights of such lands to our Company for the purposes of civil aviation and related businesses of our Company. |
The annual aggregate amount of rent payable by our Company to CSAH under the new asset lease framework agreement for each of the three years ending 31 December 2021, 2022 and 2023 is RMB346.2905 million. For the year ended 31 December 2021, the rent incurred by our Group amounted to RMB323 million pursuant to the new asset lease framework agreement.
According to IFRS 16 – “Leases”, our Group, as the lessee, shall recognise a lease as a asset and a lease liability in the consolidated statement of financial position of our Group. The aggregate value of the asset recognised under the proposed lease transactions contemplated under the new asset lease framework agreement is RMB935 million.
right-of-use
right-of-use
| (3) | On December 30, 2019, we entered into a property and land lease framework agreement with CSAH to renew the property and land lease framework agreement dated December 16, 2016 for a term of three years commencing from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. Pursuant to such property and land lease framework agreement, CSAH agreed to (i) lease to us certain properties, facilities and other infrastructure located in various cities such as Beijing, Shenyang, Chaoyang, Dalian, Changchun, Harbin, Jilin, Urumqi and overseas locations held by CSAH or its subsidiaries, (ii) lease certain lands located in Shenyang, Chaoyang, Dalian, Changchun, Harbin and Urumqi by leasing the land use rights of such land to us. The annual rental will be payable on a quarterly basis. The amount of aggregate annual rental payable by us to CSAH under the new property and land lease framework agreement for each of the three years ending December 31, 2022 is RMB96.78 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the rents for property lease and land lease incurred by us under the property and land lease framework agreement amounted to RMB83 million. |
78
According to IFRS 16 – “Leases”, we, as the lessee, shall recognise a lease as a asset and a lease liability in our consolidated statement of financial position. The aggregate value of the
right-of-use
right-of
use asset recognised under the lease transactions under the Property and Land Lease Framework Agreement is RMB259 million. Southern Airlines Culture and Media Co., Ltd. (“SACM”), which is 60% owned by CSAH
| (1) | On December 27, 2018, we entered into a media services framework agreement with SACM to renew the media services framework agreement dated December 30, 2015 for an additional term of three years, commencing from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. Pursuant to this agreement, we have appointed SACM to provide exclusive advertising agency services, plotting, purchase and production of in-flight TV and movie program agency services, channel publicity and production services, public relations services relating to recruitments of airhostess, services relating to the distribution of newspapers and magazines and printing, production and procurement services in relation to media. The annual caps for the media services framework agreement are RMB150 million, RMB170 million and RMB190 million for each of the three years ending December 31, 2021, respectively. On November 29, 2019, we entered into a supplemental agreement with SACM to change the annual cap for the year ended December 31, 2019 from RMB150 million to RMB200.9 million. Annual caps for the two years ended December 31, 2021 remain unchanged. |
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the transaction amount of our Group for the media services amounted to RMB131 million.
| (2) | We entered into a new media services framework agreement on 28 December 2021 with SACM, to renew the media services provided by SACM to us under the media service framework agreement for a further term of three years from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024. Pursuant to this agreement, SACM Group agrees to continue to provide us with (i) agency services for collecting, editing and distribution for our Group’s internal publicity media and platforms; (ii) exclusive advertising agency services for our Company and advertising agency services for our Company’s wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries; (iii) agency services for the planning, procurement and production of entertainment content in the application software of the Group’s in-flight entertainment system; (iv) supply services for CSA Mall; (v) recruitment public relations services; (vi) newspaper placement services; and (vii) other media services. The service fees for media services provided by the SACM and its subsidiaries to members of our Group are determined by reference to market prices after arms-length negotiations between the parties. The market prices are determined in the following order: (a) the prices then charged by independent third parties providing similar services under normal trading conditions in or in the vicinity of the place where such services are provided; or (b) the prices then charged by independent third parties providing similar services under normal trading conditions within the PRC. Our Company will assign staff to check prices and terms offered by independent third parties for similar products or services (usually through online price comparison tools). |
Pursuant to the media services framework agreement and supplemental agreement, the annual caps for each of the financial years ending 31 December 2022, 2023 and 2024 are RMB240 million, RMB261 million and RMB282 million (excluding tax), respectively.
79
China Southern Airlines Group Finance Company Limited (“Finance Company”), which is 51.416% owned by CSAH
On August 27, 2019, we entered into a financial services framework agreement with Finance Company to renew the financial services framework agreement dated August 29, 2016 for a term of three years commencing from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. Pursuant to this financial services framework agreement, Finance Company will provide to our Group, among other things, deposit services and loan services. Each of the maximum daily balance of deposits (including the corresponding interests accrued thereon) placed by our Group as well as the maximum amount of the outstanding loans provided by Finance Company to our Group (including the corresponding interests payable accrued thereon) for each of the three years ending December 31, 2022 shall not exceed the cap which is set at RMB13.0 billion, RMB14.5 billion and RMB16.0 billion, respectively, on any given day. The deposit placed by the Group with Finance Company were RMB12,621 million on 31 December 2021 and did not exceed RMB14.5 billion on any given day during the year ended 31 December 2021.
China Southern Airlines Group Property Management Company Limited (“CSAGPMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAH
On December 21, 2020, we entered into a new property management framework agreement with CSAGPMC to renew the appointment of CSAGPMC for a term of three years from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023 for the provision of property management and maintenance services, including (i) ensuring that our Company’s facilities in the production area, office area and living area of the old Baiyun Airport area, the China Southern Airlines building, the new Baiyun Airport and their surroundings are kept in an ideal condition and that the equipment in those areas are in normal operation; (ii) managing and carrying out maintenance in the old Baiyun Airport area, the China Southern Airlines building and their surrounding properties; (iii) managing and carrying out maintenance in the properties rented by the Company in the China Southern Airlines base and the terminal building of the new Baiyun Airport; (iv) managing and carrying out maintenance in the 110KV electrical substation in the new Baiyun Airport; (v) managing the operation of and carrying out maintenance in the high and low voltage transformer and distribution equipment in the Guangzhou freight station; and (vi) providing the water and electricity charge agency services. The annual cap for the property management framework agreement is set at RMB167 million for each of the three years ended December 31, 2023, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the property management and maintenance services fee incurred by our Group amounted to RMB154 million pursuant to the property management framework agreement.
On 15 February 2022, CSAH completed the disposal of 95% interest in CSAGPMC to China Merchants Property Operation & Service Co., Ltd., an independent third party to the Company. Subsequent to the disposal, CSAH only holds 5% of the interest in CSAGPMC and CSAGPMC will no longer be a connected person to the Company under the HKSE Listing Rules. As such, the transactions contemplated under the Property Management Framework Agreement ceased to be a continuing connected transaction of the Company following the disposal under the HKSE Listing Rules.
80
CSA International Finance Leasing Co., Ltd. (the “CSA International”)
CSA International was previously wholly owned by CSAH, and became a joint venture of CSAH in 2019.
| (1) | We entered into a finance lease agreement with Guangzhou Nansha CSA Tianru Leasing Co., Ltd. (the “CSA Leasing Company”), which is wholly owned by CSA International, in relation to one Airbus A321 aircraft (“A321 Finance Lease Agreement”) and a finance lease agreement in relation to one Airbus A330-300 aircraft (“A330 Finance Lease Agreement”) on April 27, 2017, pursuant to which CSA Leasing Company agreed to provide finance leasing to us in relation to one Airbus A321 aircraft and one Airbus A330-300 aircraft, respectively. |
Under each of the A321 Finance Lease Agreement and the A330 Finance Lease Agreement, (1) the lease term is 12 years, commencing on the delivery date of the relevant aircraft, (2) the principal amount shall not exceed 100% of the purchase price of the relevant aircraft, (3) the applicable interest rate is 21.6% float down of the interest rate for RMB loan for above 5 years set by the People’s Bank of China, (4) the handling fee for the aircraft shall be paid to CSA Leasing Company in one lump sum prior to the delivery date of the relevant aircraft, and (5) upon the expiry of the lease term, we are entitled to purchase the relevant aircraft back from CSA Leasing Company at a price of RMB10,000. The total rental fee and handling fee may not exceed US$250.93 million.
| (2) | We entered into a 2020-2022 finance and lease service framework agreement (the “Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement”) with CSA International on October 10, 2019 for a term of three years commencing from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, pursuant to which CSA International agreed to provide to us finance leasing service in relation to the leased aircraft, leased aircraft related assets and leased aviation related equipment and operating lease service in relation to certain aircraft, helicopters and engines. |
The total rental fee (including principal and interest) and handling fee under the finance lease service related transactions are US$5,140 million, US$5,039 million and US$4,434 million for the three years ending December 31, 2022, respectively. Pursuant to IFRS 16, the finance lease transactions by us (including our wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries or their wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries) as lessee under the Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement will be recognized as assets, and the annual caps for the finance lease for the three years ending December 31, 2022 under the Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement are US$3,922 million, US$3,833 million and US$3,385 million, respectively.
right-of-use
The total rental fee (including principal and interest) and handling fee for finance lease under 2020-2022 the Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement was RMB2,311 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The calculated assets by discounting the above mentioned total rental fee (including principal and interest) and the handling fee was RMB1,869 million.
right-of-use
The maximum annual rental fee under the operating lease service related transactions are US$135 million, US$255 million and US$368 million for the three years ending December 31, 2022 respectively, and the maximum total rental fee under the operating lease transactions are US$1,385 million, US$1,213 million and US$1,201 million for the three years ending December 31, 2022 respectively. Pursuant to IFRS 16, the operating lease service related transactions by us as lessee under the Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement will be recognized as assets, and the annual caps for the operating lease for the years ending December 31, 2022 under the Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement are US$1,116 million, US$961 million and US$949 million, respectively.
right-of-use
We paid the rental fees (namely actual amount of rental fees payable to CSA International by us every year, including twelve-month rental fees for current aircraft, helicopters and engines as well as newly added aircraft, helicopters and engines during the year) of RMB150 million for the operating lease service related transactions under the Finance and Lease Service Framework Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2021. The total amount of rental fees of newly added aircraft, helicopters and engines (leased from CSA International by way of operating lease by us every year with lease term ranging from two to twelve years) and the calculated assets by discounting the above mentioned total rental fee during the year ended 31 December 2021 were nil.
right-of-use
81
Shenzhen Air Catering Co., Ltd. (the “SACC”), which is 50.1% owned by CSAH
We entered into a catering services framework agreement with SACC on December 27, 2018 to renew the catering services framework agreement dated December 30, 2015 for a term of three years commencing from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. Pursuant to the agreement dated December 27, 2018, SACC agreed to provide the
in-flight
meal boxes, and order, supply, allot, recycle, store and install the in-flight
supply with their respective services for the arrival and departure flights designated by our Group at the airport where SACC is located at. The annual caps for the catering services framework agreement are RMB231 million, RMB266 million and RMB306 million for each of the three financial years ended December 31, 2021, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the services fee incurred by our Group to SACC for the catering services amounted to RMB84 million.
We entered into a new catering services framework agreement on 28 December 2021 with SACC to renew the catering services provided by SACC to the Group under the catering services framework agreement for a term of three years, commencing from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.
Pursuant to the New Catering Services Framework Agreement, the annual caps for each of the three financial years ending 31 December 2022, 2023 and 2024 are RMB200 million, RMB230 million and RMB265 million, respectively.
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Non-Public
Subscriptions for Shares | (1) | On October 30, 2019, we entered into a subscription agreement with CSAH pursuant to which CSAH agreed to subscribe in cash for not more than 2,453,434,457 new A Shares (including 2,453,434,457 A shares). On the same day, we entered into a subscription agreement with Nan Lung, pursuant to which Nan Lung agreed to subscribe in cash for not more than 613,358,614 new H Shares (including 613,358,614 H shares). These subscription agreements were approved in our extraordinary general meeting and the respective class meetings of shareholders of A and H Shares on December 27, 2019. The issuance of such A Shares and H Shares is subject to the approval of the CSRC. On April 8, 2020, the CSRC approved the issuance of H Shares to Nan Lung. On April 15, 2020, we issued 608,695,652 H Shares at a price of HK$5.75 per H Share. Immediately after completion of such issuance of H Shares, the total amount of our outstanding shares is 12,875,867,938 Shares, comprised of 4,275,144,849 issued H Shares and 8,600,723,089 issued A Shares. We received the “Acceptance Notice of the Application for Administration Permission” issued by the CSRC for the A Share Issuance on January 6, 2020. On April 24, 2020, the Issuance Examination Committee of the CSRC reviewed the application for the A Share Issuance and informed us that our application for the A Share issuance was approved. On May 27, 2020, we received the written approval for the A Share issuance from the CSRC. On June 17, 2020, we completed the issuance of 2,453,434,457 A Shares to CSAH at a price of RMB5.21 per A Share. These new A Shares are subject to a 36 month lock up period from the date of the completion of such issuance. Immediately after completion of such issuance of A Shares, the total amount of our outstanding shares is 15,329,302,395 Shares, comprised of 11,054,157,546 issued A Shares and 4,275,144,849 issued H Shares. |
| (2) | On October 29, 2021, we entered into a subscription agreement with CSAH pursuant to which CSAH agreed to subscribe for in cash 803,571,428 new A Shares. On the same day, we entered into a subscription agreement with Nan Lung, pursuant to which Nan Lung agreed to subscribe in cash for not more than 855,028,969 new H Shares (including 855,028,969 H shares). These subscription agreements were approved at our extraordinary general meeting on December 28, 2021. The issuance of such A Shares and H Shares is subject to the approval of the CSRC. On March 18, 2022, we announced that the CSRC approved the issuance of H Shares to Nan Lung. |
Subscription for A Share Convertible Bonds
On May 14, 2020, the Board considered and approved, among others, the issuance of convertible corporate bonds in the total amount of not exceeding RMB16 billion which are convertible into new A Shares and proposed to be issued by us within the PRC (the “A Share Convertible Bonds”) and the possible subscription for the A Share Convertible Bonds by CSAH. CSAH, being our controlling Shareholder, is entitled to the
pre-emptive
rights to subscribe for the A Share Convertible Bonds under the issuance plan of the A Share Convertible Bonds, which is compliant with the relevant laws, regulations, normative documents and the Articles of Association. The terms of the subscription for A Share Convertible Bonds by CSAH are the same as the terms and conditions which are set out in the issuance plan of the A Share Convertible Bonds. On June 30, 2020, the aforesaid proposed issuance of A Share Convertible Bonds and possible subscription for the A Share Convertible Bonds by CSAH were considered and approved at the 2019 annual general meeting, 2020 first class meeting for holders of A Shares and 2020 first class meeting for holders of H Shares. On October 15, 2020, we completed the public issuance of 160 million A Share Convertible Bonds in the total amount of RMB16 billion with a nominal value of RMB100 each and the initial conversion price of RMB6.24 per share, out of which CSAH subscribed for 101,027,580 A Share Convertible Bonds. As of December 31, 2021, 101,034,070 A Share convertible bonds were converted to A Shares and all of the A Share convertible bonds held by CSAH have been converted into A Shares on June 18, 2021. Sichuan Airlines Co., Ltd. (“Sichuan Airline”), which is 39% owned by us
On August 30, 2019, we entered into a framework agreement on the use of facility with Sichuan Airline, pursuant to which Sichuan Airline will construct a multi-use building. Upon construction completion, Sichuan Airline will lease the building to us for a term of twenty years. The building is expected to be delivered to us by June 30, 2022.
Provision of Guarantees
As of December 31, 2021, we and our subsidiaries, Xiamen Airlines and Chongqing Airlines, provided guarantees to 43 SPVs that were controlled and consolidated by us, which was approved at our general meeting. The total amount of such guarantee is US$5.38 billion.
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During the reporting period, we have authorized Xiamen Airlines to provide guarantees to its subsidiaries, which are Hebei Airlines, Xiamen Airlines Finance, Xiamen Airlines Lease and Jiangxi Airlines, with an aggregate balance up to RMB5,300 million, RMB600 million, RMB3,500 million and RMB1,320 million or equivalent in foreign currency during the period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the amount of such guarantee provided by Xiamen Airlines to these four subsidiaries are RMB2,850 million, RMB0 million, RMB0 million and RMB873 million, respectively.
C. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Our audited consolidated financial statements are set forth beginning on page
F-1,
which can be found after Item 19. Legal Proceedings
We are currently not a party to any legal, arbitration, or administrative proceedings that our management believes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. We may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise. Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in substantial cost and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.
Dividend Information
As the Company suffered an operating loss for year of 2021, which does not meet the conditions for profit distribution as required under the Articles of Association of the Company, the Board did not recommend any payment of cash dividend or conversion of capital reserve into share capital or other profit distribution of the Company for the year of 2021. The abovementioned proposal is still subject to the approval of the 2020 annual general meeting of the Company.
Our Board declares dividends, if any, in Renminbi with respect to H Shares on a per share basis and pays such dividends in Hong Kong dollars. Any final dividend for a fiscal year is subject to shareholders’ approval. Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, converts the HK dollar dividend payments and distributes them to holders of ADSs in U.S. dollars, less expenses of conversion. Under the Company Law of the PRC and our Articles of Association, all of our shareholders have equal rights to dividends and distributions. The holders of the H Shares share proportionately on a per share basis in all dividends and other distributions declared by our Board, if any, based on the foreign exchange conversion rate published by the People’s Bank of China, or PBOC, on the date of the distribution of the cash dividend.
During the three years of 2019 to 2021, the aggregate cash dividends the Company distributed exceed the annual average profit distributable to shareholders as shown on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. This complies with the Articles of Association, which requires that the aggregate cash dividends distributed in the last three years shall not be less than 30% of the annual average distributable profit of the Company in the last three years.
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We believe that our dividend policy strikes a balance between two important goals providing our shareholders with a competitive return on investment and assuring sufficient reinvestment of profits to enable us to achieve our strategic objectives. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board, which takes into account the following factors:
| • | our financial results; |
| • | capital requirements; |
| • | contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends by us to our shareholders or by our subsidiaries to us; |
| • | our shareholders’ interests; |
| • | the effect on our creditworthiness; |
| • | general business and economic conditions; and |
| • | other factors our Board may deem relevant. |
Pursuant to PRC laws and regulations and our Articles of Association, dividends may only be distributed after allowance has been made for: (i) recovery of losses, if any, and (ii) allocations to the statutory surplus reserve. The allocation to the statutory surplus reserve is 10% of our net profit determined in accordance with PRC GAAP. Our distributable profits for the current fiscal year will be equal to our net profits determined in accordance with IFRSs, less allocations to the statutory surplus reserve.
B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
No significant changes have occurred since the date of the consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 9. |
THE OFFER AND LISTING |
A. OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
The principal trading market for our Company’s H Shares is the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and our Company’s trading code is “1055”. Our Company completed our initial public offering of H Shares on July 30, 1997. The ADS, each representing 50 H Shares, have been listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange since July 31, 1997, under the symbol “ZNH”.
The principal trading market for our Company’s A Shares is the Shanghai Stock Exchange with trading code of “600029”. On July 25, 2003, our Company completed our initial public offering of A Shares.
No significant trading suspension occurred in the prior three years.
B. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Not applicable.
C. MARKETS
See “Offer and Listing Details” above.
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D. SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
Not applicable.
E. DILUTION
Not applicable.
F. EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
A. SHARE CAPITAL
Not applicable
B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The following is a summary of certain provisions of our Articles of Association. As this is a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. You and your advisors should read the text of our most updated Articles of Association for further information, which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report.
General
Our Company is registered with and has obtained a business license from the State Administration Bureau of Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China on March 25, 1995. On March 13, 2003, our Company obtained an approval certificate from the Ministry of Commerce to change to a permanent limited company with foreign investments.
Other Senior Administrative Officers
Pursuant to the Article 17 of the Articles of Association, other senior administrative officers of our Company refer to the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Pilot, COO Flight Safety, Chief Information Officer, Chief Economist, Chief Legal Adviser, Chief Engineer, COO Flight Operations, Company Secretary and other senior management appointed by the Board.
Objects and Purposes
Pursuant to the Article 19 of the Articles of Association, the scope of business of our Company includes: (1) provision of scheduled and
non-scheduled
domestic, regional and international air transportation services for passengers, cargo, mail and luggage; (2) undertaking general aviation services; (3) provision of aircraft repair and maintenance services; (4) acting as agent for other domestic and international airlines; (5) provision of air catering services; (6) engaging in other airline or airline related business, (limited to insurance agency business personal accident insurance); (7) provision of airline ground services; (8) aviation training; (9) asset leasing services; (10) project management and technical consultancy services; (11) sales of aviation equipment; (12) travel agency business; (13) merchandise retail and wholesale; and (14) physical examination services; all subject to approval by company registration authorities. 86
Directors
Pursuant to Article 175 of the Articles of Association, where a director is interested in any resolution proposed at a board meeting, such director shall abstain from voting and shall not have a right to vote. Such director shall not be counted in the quorum of the relevant meeting. Such directors also shall not vote on behalf of other directors. Board meetings may be convened by more than half of the directors who are not interested in the proposal. Resolutions of board meetings shall be passed by more than half of directors who are not interested in the proposal.
Pursuant to Article 245 of the Articles of Association, where a director of our Company is in any way, directly or indirectly, materially interested in a contract, transaction or arrangement or proposed contract, transaction or arrangement with the Company, (other than his contract of service with the Company), he shall declare the nature and extent of his interests to the Board at the earliest opportunity, whether or not the contract, transaction or arrangement or proposal therefor is otherwise subject to the approval of the Board. For the purposes of the Articles of Association, a director is deemed to be interested in a contract, transaction or agreement in which an associate of him is interested.
Pursuant to Article 253 of the Articles of Association, our Company shall, with the prior approval of shareholders in shareholders’ general meeting, enter into a contract in writing with a director wherein his emoluments are stipulated. The aforesaid emoluments include, emoluments in respect of his service as director, supervisor or senior administrative officer of our Company or any subsidiary of our Company, emoluments in respect of the provision of other services in connection with the management of the affairs of our Company and any of its subsidiaries, and payment by way of compensation for loss of office, or as consideration for or in connection with his retirement from office.
Pursuant to Article 248 of the Articles of Association, our Company shall not directly or indirectly make a loan to or provide any guarantee in connect with the making of a loan to a director of the Company. However, the following transactions are not subject to such prohibition: (1) the provision by the Company of a loan or a guarantee in connection with the making of a loan or any other funds to any of its directors to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him for the purposes of the Company or for the purpose of enabling him to perform his duties properly, in accordance with the terms of a service contract approved by the shareholders in shareholders’ general meeting; (2) the Company may make a loan to or provide a guarantee in connection with the making of a loan to any of the relevant directors or their respective associates in the ordinary course of its business on normal commercial terms, provided that the ordinary course of business of the Company includes the lending of money or the giving of guarantees.
There is no specific provisions concerning a director’s power, in the absence of an independent quorum, to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body, other than the above Article 175 with respect to a director’s voting power in matters he is materially interested. Directors are not required to hold shares of our Company. Our Articles do not contain any share requirements for the directors to retire by a specified age.
Ordinary Shares
Pursuant to Article 27 of the Articles of Association, subject to the approval of the securities authority of the State Council, our Company may issue and offer shares to domestic investors or foreign investors for subscription. Foreign investors are those investors of foreign countries and regions of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan who subscribe for shares issued by our Company. Domestic investors are those investors within the territory of the PRC (excluding investors of the regions referred to in the preceding sentence) who subscribe for shares issued by our Company.
Pursuant to Article 28 of the Articles of Association, shares issued by our Company to domestic investors for subscription in RMB shall be referred to as “Domestic Shares”. Shares issued by our Company to foreign investors for subscription in foreign currencies shall be referred to as “Foreign Shares”. Foreign Shares which are listed overseas are called “Overseas Listed Foreign Shares”. The foreign currencies mean the legal currencies (apart from RMB) of other countries or regions which are recognized by the foreign exchange control authority of the state and can be used to pay our Company for the share price.
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Pursuant to Article 29 of the Articles of Association, Domestic Shares issued by our Company shall be called “A Shares”. Overseas Listed Foreign Shares issued by our Company and listed in Hong Kong shall be called “H Shares”. H Shares are shares which have been admitted for listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, the par value of which is denominated in RMB and which are subscribed for and traded in Hong Kong dollars. H Shares can also be listed on a stock exchange in the United States of America in the form of ADS. Shares issued by our Company, including Domestic Shares and Foreign Shares, are all ordinary shares.
Pursuant to Article 63 of the Articles of Association, the ordinary shareholders of our Company shall enjoy the following rights:
| (1) | the right to attend or appoint a proxy to attend shareholders’ general meetings and to vote thereat; |
| (2) | the right to dividends and other distributions in proportion to the number of shares held; |
| (3) | the right of supervisory management over the Company’s business operations, and the right to present proposals or enquiries; |
| (4) | the right to transfer, donate or pledge his shares in accordance with laws, administrative regulations and provisions of these Articles of Association; |
| (5) | the right of knowledge and decision making power with respect to important matters of the Company in accordance with laws, administrative regulations and these Articles of Association; |
| (6) | the right to obtain relevant information in accordance with the provisions of these Articles of Association, including: |
| (i). | the right to obtain a copy of these Articles of Association, subject to payment of the cost of such copy; |
| (ii). | the right to inspect and copy, subject to payment of a reasonable charge; |
| (iii). | all parts of the register of shareholders; |
| (a). | personal particulars of each of the Company’s directors, supervisors, president and other senior administrative officers, including: |
| (aa) | present name and alias and any former name or alias; |
| (bb) | principal address (residence); |
| (cc) | nationality; |
| (dd) | primary and all other part-time occupations and duties; |
| (ee) | identification documents and their relevant numbers; |
| (b). | state of the Company’s share capital; |
| (c). | reports showing the aggregate par value, quantity, highest and lowest price paid in respect of each class of shares repurchased by the Company since the end of last accounting year and the aggregate amount paid by the Company for this purpose; |
| (d). | minutes of shareholders’ general meetings and accountants’ report; and |
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| (e). | interim and annual reports of the Company. |
| (7) | in the event of the termination or liquidation of the Company, to participate in the distribution of surplus assets of the Company in accordance with the number of shares held; |
| (8) | the right to request the company to repurchase their shares as a result of disagreement on the resolutions passed by the shareholders’ general meeting on the merger or division of the Company; and |
| (9) | other rights conferred by laws, administrative regulations and these Articles of Association. According to Article 270, dividends shall be distributed in accordance with the proportion of shares held by shareholders. |
According to Article 38 of the Articles of Association, our Company may repurchase its issued shares under the following circumstances: (1) reduction of its capital; (2) merging with another company that holds shares in our Company; (3) use its shares for Employee Stock Ownership Plan or as stock incentives; (4) at the request of the dissenting shareholders; (5) use its shares for conversion of convertible corporate bonds issue by the Company; (6) where the repurchase is necessary for the Company to maintain its corporate value and protect the interests of the shareholders; and (7) other circumstances permitted by laws and administrative regulations.
According to Article 42 of the Articles of Association, unless our Company is in the course of liquidation, it must comply with the following provisions in relation to repurchase of its issued shares: (1) where our Company repurchases shares of our Company at par value, payment shall be made out of book surplus distributable profits of our Company or out of proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that purpose; (2) where our Company repurchases shares of our Company at a premium to its par value, payment up to the par value may be made out of the book surplus distributable profits of our Company or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that purpose: (i) If the shares being repurchased were issued at par value, payment shall be made out of the book surplus distributable profits of the Company; (ii) If the shares being repurchased were issued at a premium to its par value, payment shall be made out of the book surplus distributable profits of the Company or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that purpose, provided that the amount paid out of the proceeds of the fresh issue shall not exceed the aggregate of premiums received by the Company on the issue of the shares repurchased or the current amount (including the premiums on the fresh issue) of the Company’s premium account (or capital common reserve fund account) at the time of the repurchase; (3) payment by our Company in consideration of the following shall be made out of our Company’s distributable profits: (i) acquisition of rights to repurchase shares of our Company; (ii) variation of any contract to repurchase shares of our Company; and (iii) release of any of our Company’s obligation under any contract to repurchase shares of our Company; and (4) After our Company’s registered capital has been reduced by the total par value of the cancelled shares in accordance with the relevant provisions, the amount deducted from the distributable profits of our Company for paying up the
par-value
portion of the shares repurchased shall be transferred to our Company’s premium account (or capital common reserve fund account). According to Article 68 of the Articles of Association, shareholders of our company have the obligation not to withdraw their shares unless required by laws and regulations; shareholders are not liable to make any further contribution to the share capital other than as agreed by the subscriber of the relevant shares on subscription.
According to Article 267 of the Articles of Association, when distributing each year’s
after-tax
profits, our Company shall set aside 10% of such profits for our Company’s statutory common reserve fund, except where the accumulated balance of the said fund has reached 50% of our Company’s registered capital. After our Company has allocated its after-tax
profits to the statutory common reserve fund, we may, with the approval of the shareholders by way of resolution in a shareholders’ general meeting, further allocate its after-tax
profits to the discretionary common reserve fund. The Articles of Association does not have specific provisions discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of such securities as a result of other shareholders owning a substantial number of shares.
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Action Necessary to Change Rights of Shareholders
Pursuant to Article 152 of the Articles of Association, shareholders who hold different classes of shares are shareholders of different classes. The holders of the Domestic Shares and holders of Overseas Listed Foreign Shares are deemed to be shareholders of different classes.
Pursuant to Article 153 of the Articles of Association, rights conferred on any class of shareholders in the capacity of shareholders (“class rights”) may not be varied or abrogated unless approved by a special resolution of shareholders in general meeting and by holders of shares of that class at a separate meeting.
Pursuant to Article 155 of the Articles of Association, shareholders of the affected class, whether or not otherwise having the right to vote at shareholders’ general meetings, shall nevertheless have the right to vote at class meetings in respect of the following matters: (i) to effect an exchange of all or part of the shares of such class into shares of another class or to effect an exchange or create a right of exchange of all or part of the shares of another class into the shares of such class; (ii) to restrict the transfer or ownership of the shares of such class or add to such restriction; (iii) to restructure our Company where the proposed restructuring will result in different classes of shareholders bearing a disproportionate burden of such proposed restructuring; and (iv) to vary or abrogate the provisions of these Articles of Association. However, interested shareholder(s) shall not be entitled to vote at class meetings.
Pursuant to Article 156 of the Articles of Association, resolutions of a class of shareholders shall be passed by votes representing more than
two-thirds
of the voting rights of shareholders of that class represented at the relevant meeting who are entitled to vote at class meetings. Pursuant to Article 157 of the Articles of Association, written notice of a class meeting shall be given forty-five days before the date of the class meeting to notify all of the shareholders in the share register of the class of the matters to be considered, the date and the place of the class meeting. A shareholder who intends to attend the class meeting shall deliver his written reply concerning attendance at the class meeting to our Company twenty days before the date of the class meeting. If the number of shares carrying voting rights at the meeting represented by the shareholders who intend to attend the class meeting reaches more than one half of the voting shares at the class meeting, our Company may hold the class meeting; if not, our Company shall within five (5) days notify the shareholders again by public notice of the matters to be considered, the date and the place for the class meeting. Our Company may then hold the class meeting after such publication of notice.
Pursuant to Article 158 of the Articles of Association, notice of class meetings need only be served on shareholders entitled to vote thereat. Meeting of any class of shareholders shall be conducted in a manner as similar as possible to that of general meetings of shareholders. The provisions of these Articles of Association relating to the manner to conduct any shareholders’ general meeting shall apply to any meeting of a class of shareholders.
Meetings of Shareholders
According to Article 79, shareholders’ general meetings are divided into annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. Shareholders’ general meetings shall be convened by our Board. Annual general meetings are held once every year and within six months from the end of the preceding financial year.
According to Article 80, under any of the following circumstances, our Board shall convene an extraordinary general meeting within two months: (1) the number of directors is less than that is required by the Company Law or two thirds of the number of directors specified in these Articles of Association; (2) the accrued losses of our Company amount to one third of the total amount of its share capital; (3) shareholder(s) individually or jointly holding 10% or more of our Company’s issued and outstanding shares carrying voting rights request(s) in writing the convening of an extraordinary general meeting; (4) it is deemed necessary by the Board or requested by the supervisory committee to convene an extraordinary general meeting; (5) more than one half of the independent directors propose to convene the meeting.
According to Article 92 of the Articles of Association, notice of a shareholders’ general meeting shall be given by way of announcement or by any other manner as provided in these Articles of Association (if necessary), not less than forty-five days (including forty-five days) before the date of the meeting to notify all of the shareholders in the share register of the matters to be considered, the date and the place of the meeting.
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According to Article 93 of the Articles of Association, our Company shall, based on the written replies received twenty days before the date of the shareholders’ general meeting from the shareholders, calculate the number of voting shares represented by the shareholders who intend to attend the meeting. If the number of voting shares represented by the shareholders who intend to attend the meeting reaches one half or more of our Company’s total voting shares, our Company may hold the meeting; if not, then our Company shall within five days notify the shareholders again by public notice of the matters to be considered, the place and date for, the meeting. Our Company may then hold the meeting after such publication of notice.
Limitation on Right to Own Securities
The Articles of Association does not specifically provide for the limitations on the rights to own securities by certain shareholders, however, the PRC Special Regulations on Overseas Offering and the Listing of Shares by Companies Limited by Share (the “Special Regulations”) and the Mandatory Provisions for Articles of Association of Companies to be Listed Overseas (the “Mandatory Provisions”) provide for different classes of shares to be subscribed for and traded by local and overseas investors respectively. Shares which can be traded by overseas investors must be in registered form and while denominated in Renminbi, they are traded in foreign currency with dividends payable in foreign currency. Local investors are prohibited from dealing in such shares.
Merger, Acquisition or Corporate Restructuring
Pursuant to Article 295 of the Articles of Association, in the event of the merger or division of our Company, a plan shall be presented by our Company’s Board and shall be approved in shareholders’ general meeting and the relevant examining and approving formalities shall be processed as required by law. A shareholder who objects to the plan of merger or division shall have the right to demand our Company or the shareholders who consent to the plan of merger or division to acquire that dissenting shareholder’s shareholding at a fair price. The contents of the resolution of merger or division of our Company shall be made into special documents for shareholders’ inspection. Such special documents shall be sent by mail to holders of Overseas-Listed Foreign Shares.
Ownership to Be Disclosed
The Articles of Association do not contain any provisions governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Certain Differences between PRC Company Law and Delaware Corporate Law
The PRC company law and other laws applicable to us differ in a number of respects from laws generally applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. The description set forth below includes a summary of certain provisions of the PRC company law, Special Rules, Mandatory Provisions and the Guidelines applicable to companies listed both in the PRC and overseas, such as us, which differ from provisions of the corporate law of the State of Delaware.
General
We are a PRC joint stock company, which is a corporate entity organized under the PRC company law. Under the PRC company law, the registered capital of a joint stock company is divided into shares of equal par value. These shares are commonly called domestic ordinary shares. Each share of a joint stock company ranks equally with all other shares in its class as to voting rights (except for specified class voting rights) and rights to dividends and other distributions. Upon receiving approval from the relevant authorities, a joint stock company may offer its shares for sale to the public and seek to be listed on a stock exchange. The State Council may formulate separate regulations for the issuance of other classes of shares, including H shares. All of our issued shares are fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of H shares may transfer their shares without the approval of other shareholders. Among other things, a joint stock company must have (1) a board of directors of not fewer than five and not more than 19 members, and (2) a board of supervisors of not fewer than three members.
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The shareholders’ meeting of a joint stock company is the highest authority of the company and exercises the powers of the company with respect to significant matters, subject to applicable law and the articles of association of the company. The business of a joint stock company is under the overall management of a board of directors, subject to the PRC company law, other applicable laws and regulations (which in our case include the PRC aviation law and regulations), the company’s articles of association and duly adopted resolutions of its shareholders. The operations of a joint stock company are under the direction of its general manager or president, subject to applicable laws and regulations, the company’s articles of association and duly adopted resolutions of the directors and shareholders. In addition, the PRC company law provides for the establishment of a board of supervisors for each joint stock company. The supervisors perform and exercise the functions and powers described below, including examination of the joint stock company’s affairs and monitoring the actions of the directors and officers of the company. The directors, supervisors and officers are not required to hold any qualifying shares in the joint stock company.
day-to-day
A joint stock company may be liquidated involuntarily due to insolvency or voluntarily in accordance with the terms of its articles of association or duly adopted shareholders’ resolutions. The property of a joint stock company remaining after full payment of its liquidation expenses, wages, labor insurance premiums of its employees and statutory compensations, outstanding taxes and debts, is distributed in proportion to the holdings of its shareholders.
Meetings of shareholders
Under PRC law, shareholders are given the power to approve specified matters. In addition, the Mandatory Provisions provide that at shareholders’ meetings shareholders are entitled to consider any proposals made by shareholders holding in the aggregate at least 3% of voting power over the company’s shares. These proposals must fall within the scope of powers of the shareholder’s meeting, have a clear agenda and specific matters and comply with laws, administrative regulations and articles of association of the company.
Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a Delaware corporation are, in general, managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. Only certain fundamental matters regarding the corporation are reserved by statute to be exercised by the shareholders. These matters include, in general, election or removal of directors, retention or dismissal of the corporation’s independent auditors, mergers or other business combinations involving the corporation, amendment of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation and liquidation or dissolution of the corporation.
Shareholders’ approval by written consent
PRC law does not provide shareholders of overseas listed joint stock companies with rights to approve corporate matters by written consent. Under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action which is required or permitted to be taken at any shareholders’ meeting may be taken without a meeting, subject to various conditions.
Amendments of articles of association
Under PRC law, an amendment of the articles of association must be approved by an affirmative vote of
two-thirds
of shareholders attending a shareholders’ meeting. Amendments with respect to the Mandatory Provisions only become effective after approval by the relevant governmental department authorized by the State Council and the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, shareholder approvals must be obtained for any amendment to the certificate of incorporation. Board approvals are also required for any amendment to the certificate of incorporation, but no governmental approval is generally required.
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Powers and responsibilities of directors
Under PRC law, the board of directors is responsible for specified actions, including the following functions and powers of a joint stock company:
| • | convening shareholders’ meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at these meetings; |
| • | implementing shareholders’ resolutions; |
| • | determining the company’s business plans and investment proposals; |
| • | formulating the company’s annual financial budgets and final accounts; |
| • | formulating the company’s profit distribution plans and loss recovery plans; |
| • | formulating proposals for the increase or decrease in the company’s registered capital and the issue of debentures; |
| • | formulating major acquisition and disposal plans and plans for the merger, division or dissolution of the company; |
| • | to the extent authorized by the shareholders’ meeting, deciding on such matters as external investments, purchase or sale of assets, assets pledge and connected transactions of the company; |
| • | deciding on the company’s internal management structure and formulating its basic management system; and |
| • | appointing or removing the company’s principal executive officers; appointing and removing other senior officers based on the recommendation of the principal executive officer and deciding on the remuneration of the senior officers. |
In addition, the Mandatory Provisions provide that the board of directors has the authority to formulate any proposal to amend the articles of association and to exercise any other power conferred by a decision of the shareholders’ meeting.
Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a Delaware corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. Their powers include fixing the remuneration of directors, except as otherwise provided by statute or in the certificate of incorporation or
by-laws
of the corporation. Powers and responsibilities of supervisors
Under PRC law, a PRC joint stock company must have a board of supervisors consisting of shareholder representatives and one or more employee representatives. Supervisors attend board meetings as
non-voting
observers. Directors and officers may not serve as supervisors. The supervisors perform and exercise the following functions and powers: | • | examining the company’s financial affairs; |
| • | monitoring compliance with laws, regulations, the articles of association of the company and the shareholders resolutions by the directors and officers of the company; and suggesting removing the directors and officers who violate these laws and regulations; |
| • | requiring corrective action from directors and officers whose actions are contrary to the interests of the company; |
| • | examining the financial information, including financial statements, operation reports and plans for profit distribution, to be submitted by the board of directors to the shareholders’ meetings; and authorizing, in the company’s name, public certified accountants or licensed auditors to assist in the re-examination of such information, should any doubt arise in respect thereof; |
| • | proposing the holding of extraordinary shareholders’ meetings; |
| • | proposing new items to be inserted in the agenda of the shareholders’ meeting; |
| • | bringing lawsuits against directors or members of senior management, if they violate laws, regulations or articles of association of the company; and |
| • | exercising and performing other powers and functions provided for in the company’s articles of association. |
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In addition, the Mandatory Provisions provide that supervisors of overseas listed joint stock companies are entitled to retain auditors in the name of the company to examine any financial or business reports or profit distribution proposals to be submitted by the directors to a meeting of the shareholders which the supervisors consider questionable, and negotiate or take legal action against any director or the directors in the name of the company. The fees and expenses of attorneys and other professionals incurred by the supervisors in connection with the discharge of their duties are to be paid by the company.
Delaware law makes no provision for a comparable corporate institution.
Duties of directors, supervisors and officers
Under PRC law, directors, supervisors and officers of a joint stock company are required to comply with relevant laws and regulations and the company’s articles of association. A director, supervisor or officer who contravenes any law, regulation or the company’s articles of association in the performance of his duties shall be personally liable to the company for any loss incurred by the company. Directors, supervisors and officers are required to carry out their duties honestly and diligently, and protect the interests of the company. They are also under a duty of confidentiality to the company and prohibited from divulging confidential information concerning the company, except as permitted by relevant laws and regulations or by a decision of a shareholders’ meeting. They may not use their position and authority in the company to seek personal gain. Directors and officers may not directly or indirectly engage in the same business as the company or in any other business detrimental to the interests of the company, and they are required to forfeit any profits from these activities to the company.
Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a fiduciary duty of care to protect the interests of the corporation and a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of its shareholders.
Limitations on transactions with interested directors, supervisors and officers
Under PRC law, directors and officers of a joint stock company may not enter into any contracts or transactions with the company unless permitted by the articles of association or approved by the shareholders. A company may not provide any guarantees to shareholders or any de facto control person of the company unless such guarantees are approved by a majority of shareholders present at the shareholders’ meeting, excluding the shareholder who will be provided such guarantees. Under the Mandatory Provisions, a director, supervisor or officer is required to disclose to the board any transaction with the company in which he has a direct or indirect interest or in which there is a material conflict of interest between the company and himself. A director is not entitled to vote or be counted for quorum purposes in any board decision on any such transaction. A company may set aside any interested transaction which did not comply with these requirements, unless the other party to such transaction was honestly unaware of the breach of obligations by the interested director, supervisor or officer. A company may not loan or provide any guarantees to directors, supervisors or officers (including persons related to them), except for the loans made in accordance with employment contracts approved by the shareholders, or unless the company’s business scope allows for the provision of loans and guarantees and such loans or guarantees are made under regular commercial terms.
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Under Delaware law, an interested transaction is not voidable if (1) the material facts as to the interested director’s relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the board in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, (2) such material facts are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote on such transaction and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the majority of shares entitled to vote thereon or (3) the transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified. Under Delaware law, the interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which such a director derived an improper personal benefit.
Election and removal of directors
Under PRC law, the term of office of directors of a joint stock company must be specified in the articles of association, but may not exceed three years. Directors may be
re-elected.
No director may be removed from office without cause by shareholders prior to the expiration of the director’s term. PRC law does not contemplate a classified board of directors. Under Delaware law, directors of a Delaware corporation can be removed from office with or without cause by the holders of a majority of shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, provided that except where the certificate of incorporation of the Delaware corporation otherwise provides, a member of a classified board may be removed by shareholders only for cause, and in a corporation with cumulative voting, if less than all of the directors are removed, no director may be removed if the votes cast against the director’s removal is sufficient to elect the director if cumulatively voted at an election of directors. The Court of Chancery may remove a director who has been convicted of a felony or found by a court to have committed a breach of the duty of loyalty in connection with his or her duties to the corporation following application by the corporation or derivatively in the right of the corporation by any shareholder. The court may order the removal only if it determines that the director did not act in good faith in performing the acts resulting in the prior conviction or judgment and that removal is necessary to avoid irreparable harm to the corporation.
Dividend payments
Under PRC law, proposals for distribution of profits are formulated by the board of directors and submitted for shareholder approval at a shareholders’ meeting. Dividends may be distributed in the form of cash or shares.
Under Delaware law, the board of directors of a Delaware corporation may declare dividends out of distributable earnings and profits without the approval of the shareholders.
Amalgamations and business combinations; appraisal rights
Under PRC law, amalgamations and divisions involving joint stock companies are required to be approved by shareholders voting at a shareholders’ meeting. The Mandatory Provisions require an amalgamation or division involving the company to be approved by an affirmative vote of
two-thirds
of the votes present at the shareholders’ meeting called to consider the transaction. Any opposing shareholder may request the company or the consenting shareholders to purchase its shares at a fair price. In addition, a sale of fixed assets having a value exceeding 33% of the fixed assets as shown on the company’s latest balance sheet most recently reviewed by the shareholders’ meeting requires the approval of at least one third of the shareholders’ meeting. Under Delaware law, with certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a corporation must be approved by the board of directors and holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. A shareholder objecting to the merger is entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which the shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by such shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration the shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction.
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Transactions with significant shareholders
Under Delaware law, a business combination between a Delaware corporation and an interested shareholder which takes place at any time during a period of three years commencing with the date the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder would need prior approval from the board of directors or a supermajority of the shareholders of the corporation, unless the corporation opted out of the relevant Delaware business combination statute. Under Delaware law, an interested shareholder of a corporation is someone who, together with its affiliates and associates, owns more than 15% of the outstanding common shares of the corporation. No such business combination statute or regulation applies to PRC joint stock companies.
Shareholders’ lawsuits
The PRC law provides that most disputes involving an H shareholder are to be resolved by final and binding arbitration.
Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to shareholders under Delaware law for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law.
Limitations on liability and indemnification of directors and officers
PRC law does not provide for any specific limitations on liability or indemnification of directors and officers.
Under Delaware law, a corporation may indemnify a current director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in defense of an action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position if (1) the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and (2) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity such as a subsidiary or an employee stock trust may receive advancement of expenses from the corporation. A corporation may not retroactively impair or eliminate indemnification or advancement rights by amending the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that gives rise to indemnification or advancement rights, unless the provision contains, at the time of the act or omission, an explicit authorization of such elimination or limitation.
Shareholders’ rights of inspection of corporate records
Under PRC law, shareholders are entitled to inspect the articles of association, register of shareholders, corporate bond counter foils, minutes of shareholders’ meetings and board meetings and reports of the financial accounts of the company. In addition, the Mandatory Provisions provide that, after paying reasonable fees, shareholders are entitled to inspect the company’s shareholder list, certain personal information on the directors, supervisors and officers, the company’s capital position and certain information regarding share repurchases conducted by the company during the most recent fiscal year.
Delaware law permits any shareholder of a Delaware corporation to examine or obtain copies of or extracts from the corporation’s shareholder list and its other books and records for any purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a shareholder.
C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS
Other than contracts that are described under Item 4 “Information on the Company” and Item 7 “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”, we have not entered into any material contracts outside the ordinary course of our business within the two years immediately preceding the date of this annual report.
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D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS
Under current Chinese foreign exchange regulations, Renminbi is fully convertible for current account transactions, but is not freely convertible for capital account transactions. Current account foreign currency transactions can be undertaken without prior approval from the relevant Chinese government agencies by producing commercial documents evidencing such transactions, provided that they are processed through Chinese banks licensed to engage in foreign currency transactions. Conversion from Renminbi into a foreign currency or vice versa for purposes of capital account transactions requires prior approvals of relevant Chinese government agencies. This restriction on capital account transactions could affect the ability of our Company to acquire foreign currency for capital expenditures.
Our Company is generally required by law to sell all its foreign currency revenue to Chinese banks. Our Company may purchase foreign currency directly from Chinese banks for any current account transactions, such as trade transactions in our usual and normal course of business, including acquisition of aircraft, jet fuel and flight equipment (such acquisition requires approvals from the relevant Chinese government agencies). Payment of dividends by our Company to holders of our Company’s H Shares and ADSs is also considered a current account transaction under Chinese law. Therefore, there is no legal restriction on the conversion of Renminbi into foreign currency for the purpose of paying dividends to such holders of H Shares and ADSs. In addition, our Company’s Articles of Association require our Company to pay dividends to holders of our Company’s H Shares and ADSs in foreign currency.
The People’s Bank of China has decided to improve quotation of the central parity of RMB against US dollar. Effective from August 11, 2015, the quotes of central parity that market makers report to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System daily before market opens should refer to the closing rate of the inter-bank foreign exchange market on the previous day, in conjunction with demand and supply condition in the foreign exchange market and exchange rate movement of the major currencies. As a result, the RMB central parity entered a more market-oriented stage.
The PRC government has stated publicly that it intends to further liberalize its currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant change in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. Any significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material adverse effect on our Company’s financial performance, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our Company’s H Shares and ADSs in foreign currency terms.
Other Limitations
There are no limitations on the right of
non-resident
or foreign owners to hold or vote H Shares or ADSs imposed by Chinese law or by the Articles of Association or other constituent documents of our Company. However, under current Chinese law, foreign ownership of our Company may not exceed 49%. E. TAXATION
Chinese Taxation
The following is a general summary of certain Chinese tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of A Shares, H Shares and ADSs. This summary is based upon tax laws of China as in effect on the date of this Annual Report, including the income tax treaty between the United States and China (the
“U.S.-PRC
Tax Treaty”), all of which are subject to change or different interpretation. In general, for Chinese tax purposes, holders of ADSs will be treated as the owners of the H Shares represented by those ADSs, and exchanges of H Shares for ADSs, and ADSs for H Shares, will not be subject to taxation under the laws of China.
This summary does not purport to address all material tax consequences for holders or prospective purchasers of A Shares, H Shares or ADSs, and does not take into account the specific circumstances of such investors. Investors should consult their own tax advisors as to Chinese or other tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of A shares, H Shares or ADSs.
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Dividends
The new corporate income tax law and its relevant regulations generally provide for the imposition of a withholding tax on dividends paid by a Chinese company to a
non-resident
enterprise at a rate of 10%. China currently has double-taxation treaties with a number of countries, such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Under the
U.S.-PRC
Tax Treaty, China may tax a dividend paid by our Company to a U.S. holder up to a maximum of 10% of the gross amount of such dividend. For individuals, Chinese tax law generally provides that an individual who receives dividends from Chinese companies is subject to a 20% individual income tax. A 50% reduction of taxable income is granted by Chinese tax law for an individual receiving dividends from a listed company on Shanghai Stock Exchange or Shenzhen Stock Exchange. As a result, the effective tax rate for dividends received by A share individual holder is 10% in 2019. Dividend income received by any foreign individual that holds overseas shares in Chinese enterprise is generally subject to individual income tax at a flat rate of 20%, subject to exemption or reduction by an applicable double-taxation treaty.
Where an individual acquires the stocks of a listed company from public offering of the company or from the stock market, if the stock holding period is one month or less, the incomes from dividends and bonuses shall be included into the taxable incomes in full amount and be taxed at a rate of 20%; if the stock holding period is more than one month up to one year, the incomes from dividends and bonuses shall be included into the taxable incomes at the reduced rate of 50% for the time being, namely, individual income tax shall be calculated at the tax rate of 20% ; and if the stock holding period is more than one year, the incomes from dividends and bonuses shall be temporarily exempted from individual income tax.
Capital Gains from Transfer or Disposition of Shares
The new corporate income tax law and its relevant regulations generally provides that a
non-resident
enterprise is subject to a 10% capital gains tax for the transfer or disposition of shares of a Chinese company. For individual shareholders, Chinese tax law generally provide that an individual who transfers or otherwise disposes of a company’s shares of capital stock is subject to a 20% individual income tax on the capital gain, if any. Currently, all individuals are temporarily exempt from individual income tax on transfers of shares of joint stock companies listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange or Shenzhen Stock Exchange, such as our Company. Should such temporary exemption be discontinued, such holders may be subject to a 20% individual income tax on the capital gain, if any, unless reduced by an applicable double-taxation treaty.
Hong Kong Taxation
The following is a discussion of the material Hong Kong tax provisions relating to the ownership and disposition of H shares or ADSs held by the investors as capital assets. This discussion does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to specific investors in light of their particular circumstances or to investors subject to special treatment under the tax laws of Hong Kong. This discussion is based on the tax laws of Hong Kong as in effect on the date of this annual report, which are subject to change (or changes in interpretation), possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address any aspects of Hong Kong taxation other than income taxation, capital taxation, stamp taxation and estate taxation. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding Hong Kong and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of H shares.
Tax on Dividends
Under current practice, no tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends paid by us.
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Tax on Gains from Sale
No tax is imposed in Hong Kong in respect of capital gains from the sale of property. However, trading gains from the sale of property by persons carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong where the gains are derived from or arise in Hong Kong from such trade, profession or business will be chargeable to Hong Kong profits tax, which is imposed at the rate of 16.5% on corporations and at a rate of 15% on unincorporated businesses for the year of assessment 2008/09 onwards. Commencing from the year of assessment 2018/19 (i.e. on or after 1 April 2018), the profits tax rate for the first HK$2,000,000 of profits of corporations will be lowered to 8.25% while the remaining profits will continue to be taxed at the rate of 16.5%; and the profits tax rate for the first HK$2,000,000 of profits of unincorporated businesses will be lowered to 7.5%, while the remaining profits will continue to be taxed at the rate of 15%.
Trading gains from sales of H shares effected on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will be considered to be derived from or arise in Hong Kong. Liability for Hong Kong profits tax would thus arise in respect of trading gains from sales of H shares effected on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange realized by persons carrying on a business of trading or dealing in securities in Hong Kong.
There will be no liability for Hong Kong profits tax in respect of profits from the sale of ADSs, where purchases and sales of ADSs are effected outside Hong Kong, for example, on the New York Stock Exchange.
Stamp Duty
Hong Kong stamp duty, currently charged at the ad valorem rate of 0.1% on the higher of the consideration for, or the market value of, the H shares, will be payable by the purchaser on every purchase and by the seller on every sale of H shares (in other words, a total of 0.2% is currently payable on a typical sale and purchase transaction involving H shares). In addition, a fixed duty of HK$ 5.00 is currently payable on any instrument of transfer of H shares. If stamp duty is not paid on or before the due date, a penalty of up to ten times the duty payable may be imposed.
The withdrawal of H shares upon the surrender of ADRs, and the issuance of ADRs upon the deposit of H shares, will also attract stamp duty at the rate described above for sale and purchase transactions unless such withdrawal or deposit does not result in a passing of the beneficial interest in the H shares under Hong Kong law. The issuance of the ADRs upon the deposit of H shares issued directly to the depositary of the ADSs, or for the account of the depositary, will not be subject to any stamp duty. No Hong Kong stamp duty is payable upon the transfer of ADSs outside Hong Kong.
Estate Duty
The Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005 came into effect on February 11, 2006 in Hong Kong. No Hong Kong estate duty is payable and no estate duty clearance papers are needed for an application for a grant of representation in respect of holders of H shares whose deaths occur on or after February 11, 2006.
United States Federal Income Taxation
This discussion describes general U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Company’s ADSs for U.S. Holders. This discussion does not address any aspect of U.S. federal gift or estate tax (or tax consequences for any beneficiary receiving the Company’s ADSs from a deceased holder or by gift), or the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in our Company’s ADSs. This discussion applies to you only if you hold and beneficially own our Company’s ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes. This discussion does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:
| • | dealers in securities or currencies; |
| • | traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market |
| • | banks or other financial institutions; |
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| • | insurance companies; |
| • | tax-exempt organizations, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts or tax deferred accounts; |
| • | partnerships or other pass-through entities (including entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or persons holding ADSs through any such entities; |
| • | persons that hold ADSs as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale, conversion transaction or other integrated investment; |
| • | persons whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; |
| • | persons who are U.S. expatriates; |
| • | persons liable for alternative minimum tax; or |
| • | persons who directly, indirectly or constructively own 10% or more by vote or value of our Company’s shares including ADSs. |
This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which is referred to in this discussion as the Code, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. In addition, this discussion relies on the assumptions regarding the value of our Company’s shares and the nature of our business over time. Finally, this discussion is based in part upon the representations of the depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a holder of ADSs, you are treated as the owner of the underlying ordinary shares represented by such ADSs.
The discussions and comments included herein are only a general description of the tax aspects and they do not constitute a tax advice or opinion. Therefore, you should consult your own tax advisor concerning the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Company’s ADSs, as well as the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
For purposes of the U.S. federal income tax discussion below, you are a “U.S. Holder” if you beneficially own ADSs and are:
| • | a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| • | a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, that was created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof; |
| • | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
| • | a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (b) the trust has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person. |
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U.S. Holders
Dividends on ADSs
Subject to the Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) discussion below, if our Company makes distributions and you are a U.S. Holder, the gross amount of any distributions you receive on your ADSs (without reduction for any
non-U.S.
tax withheld from such distribution) will generally be treated as dividend income if the distributions are made from our Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, calculated according to U.S. federal income tax principles. Dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax as ordinary income on the day you actually or constructively receive such income. However, if you are an individual and have held your ADSs for a sufficient period of time, dividend distributions on our Company’s ADSs will generally constitute qualified dividend income taxed at a preferential rate as long as our Company is not treated as a PFIC during the taxable year in which the distribution is made or the preceding taxable year, our Company’s ADSs continue to be readily tradable on the New York Stock Exchange and certain conditions apply. You should consult your own tax adviser as to the rate of tax that will apply to you with respect to dividend distributions, if any, you receive from us. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a
non-taxable
return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in the ADSs and thereafter as capital gain. However, our Company does not intend to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, so each U.S. Holder should therefore assume that any distribution by our Company with respect to the ADSs will constitute dividend income. If you are a corporation, you will not be entitled to claim a dividends-received deduction with respect to distributions you receive from our Company. Dividends generally will constitute foreign source passive income for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. You should consult your own tax advisor to determine the foreign tax credit implications of owning ADSs. Sales and other dispositions of ADSs
Subject to the PFIC discussion below, when you sell or otherwise dispose of our Company’s ADSs, you will generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and your adjusted tax basis in the ADSs, both as determined in U.S. dollars. Your adjusted tax basis will generally equal the amount you paid for the ADSs. Any gain or loss you recognize is long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period in our Company’s ADSs is more than one year at the time of disposition. If you are an individual, any such long-term capital gain is eligible for preferential rates. Your ability to deduct capital losses is subject to various limitations.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
If our Company is currently or were to become a PFIC, as a U.S. Holder, you would generally be subject to adverse U.S. tax consequences, in the form of increased tax liabilities and special U.S. tax reporting requirements.
Our Company will be classified as a PFIC in any taxable year if either: (1) the average value during the taxable year of our assets that produce passive income, or are held for the production of passive income, is at least 50% of the average value of our total assets for such taxable year (the “Asset Test”); or (2) 75% or more of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income (such as certain dividends, interest or royalties) (the “Income Test”). For purposes of the Asset Test: (1) any cash, cash equivalents, and cash invested in short-term, interest bearing, debt instruments, or bank deposits that is readily convertible into cash, will generally count as producing passive income or as being held for the production of passive income; and (2) the average values of our Company’s passive and total assets is calculated based on our market capitalization. In the case of publicly traded corporations, fair market value must be used for purposes of applying the Asset Test. In addition, regarding the above two tests, there are complex look-through rules to consider with respect to the assets and activities of related corporations from which our Company either receives income or in which it holds an interest. More specifically, certain adjustments are made to exclude certain income received from a related party or to include income earned and assets held by a 25% or more owned subsidiary in determining whether our Company qualifies as a PFIC under the two tests.
Our Company believes that we were not a PFIC for the taxable year 2021. However, there is no assurance that the IRS will not take a contrary position and assert that we are a PFIC, and no assurances can be given that we will not become a PFIC at some point in the future. For example, our Company would be a PFIC for the taxable year 2022 if the sum of our average market capitalization, which is our share price multiplied by the total amount of our outstanding shares, and our liabilities over that taxable year is not more than twice the value of our cash, cash equivalents, and other assets that are readily converted into cash. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effects of the PFIC rules.
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If our Company were a PFIC, you would generally be subject to additional taxes and interest charges on certain “excess distributions” our Company makes regardless of whether our Company continues to be a PFIC in the year in which you receive an “excess distribution”. An “excess distribution” would be either (1) the excess amount of a distribution with respect to ADSs during a taxable year in which distributions to you exceed 125% of the average annual distributions to you over the preceding three taxable years or, if shorter, your holding period for the ADSs, or (2) 100% of the gain from the disposition of ADSs.
To compute the tax on “excess” distributions or any gain, (1) the “excess distribution” would be allocated ratably to each day in your holding period, (2) the amounts allocated to the current year and to any tax year before the first day on which our Company became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income in the current year, (3) the amount allocated to other taxable years would be taxable at the highest applicable marginal rate in effect for that year, and (4) an interest charge at the rate for underpayment of U.S. federal income tax for any period described under (3) above would be imposed with respect to any portion of the “excess” distribution that is allocated to such period. In addition, if our Company were a PFIC, no distribution that you receive from our Company would qualify for taxation at the preferential rate discussed in the “Dividends on ADSs” section above.
If our Company were a PFIC in any year, as a U.S. Holder, you would be required to make an annual return on IRS Form 8621 “Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or a Qualified Electing Fund.” However, our Company does not intend to generate, or share with you, information that you might need to properly complete IRS Form 8621. You should consult with your own tax adviser regarding reporting requirements with regard to your ADSs.
If our Company were a PFIC in any year, you would generally be able to avoid the “excess” distribution rules described above by making a timely election with respect to your ADSs provided our Company’s ADSs are “marketable”. Our Company’s ADSs will be “marketable” as long as they remain regularly traded on a national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange. If you made this election as of the beginning of your holding period, you would generally recognize as ordinary income or ordinary loss the difference between the fair market value of your ADSs on the first day of any taxable year and their value on the last day of that taxable year. Any ordinary income resulting from this election would generally be taxed at ordinary income rates and would not be eligible for the reduced rate of tax applicable to qualified dividend income. Any ordinary losses would be limited to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the election, if any. Your basis in the ADSs would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss. Any gains recognized on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs would be treated as ordinary income and any losses would be treated as ordinary losses (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the election, if any), and thereafter as capital losses. You should consult with your own tax adviser regarding potential advantages and disadvantages to you of making a election with respect to your ADSs.
so-called
“mark-to-market”
mark-to-market
mark-to-market
“mark-to-market”
Separately, if our Company were a PFIC in any year, you would be able to avoid the “excess” distribution rules by making a timely election to treat us as a
so-called
“Qualified Electing Fund” or “QEF”. You would then generally be required to include in gross income for any taxable year (1) as ordinary income, your pro rata share of our Company’s ordinary earnings for the taxable year, and (2) as long-term capital gain, your pro rata share of our Company’s net capital gain for the taxable year. However, our Company does not intend to provide you with the information you would need to make or maintain a “QEF” election and you will, therefore, not be able to make or maintain such an election with respect to your ADSs. If the Company is a PFIC in any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owns an ADS, such U.S. Holder (i) may also suffer adverse tax consequences under the PFIC rules described above with respect to any other PFIC in which the Company has a direct or indirect equity interest and (ii) generally will be required to file annually a statement setting forth certain information with its U.S. federal income tax returns. Currently, the effects of a election on, and the application of such an election to, lower-tier PFICs are not clear.
mark-to-market
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Medicare Tax
In addition to regular U.S. federal income tax, certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which may include all or a portion of their income arising from a distribution with respect to an ADS and net gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of an ADS.
Disclosure Requirements for Specified Foreign Financial Assets
Individual U.S. Holders (and certain U.S. entities specified in U.S. Treasury regulations) who, during any taxable year, hold any interest in any “specified foreign financial asset” generally will be required to file with their U.S. federal income tax returns certain information on IRS Form 8938 if the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds certain specified amounts. “Specified foreign financial asset” generally includes any financial account maintained with a
non-U.S.
financial institution and may also include an ADS if it is not held in an account maintained with a financial institution. Substantial penalties may be imposed, and the period of limitations on assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes may be extended, in the event of a failure to comply. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors as to the possible application to them of this filing requirement. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Under certain circumstances, information reporting and/or backup withholding may apply to U.S. Holders with respect to payments made on or proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of an ADS, unless an applicable exemption is satisfied. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if the required information is furnished by the U.S. Holder on a timely basis to the IRS.
HOLDERS OF OUR COMPANY’S ADSS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES RESULTING FROM PURCHASING, HOLDING OR DISPOSING OF THE ADSS, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF THE TAX LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION AND INCLUDING ESTATE, GIFT, AND INHERITANCE LAWS.
F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
Not applicable.
G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
Not applicable.
H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
Our Company has filed this Annual Report on Form
20-F
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements made in this Annual Report as to the contents of any document referred to are not necessarily complete. With respect to each such document filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved, and each such statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by such reference. Our Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reports and other information which our Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this Annual Report on Form
20-F,
may be inspected and copied at the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. 103
You can also obtain copies of this Annual Report on Form . Copies of this material may also be obtained for our Company’s website at
20-F
by mail from the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Additionally, copies of this material may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov
. The Commission’s telephone number is 1-800-SEC-0330
http:// www.csair.com
. I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Fuel Price Fluctuation Risk
Our earnings are affected by changes in the price and availability of jet fuel. There are currently no effective means available to manage our exposure to the fluctuations in jet fuel prices. Our results of operations may be significantly affected by fluctuations in fuel prices which is a significant expense for our Group. A reasonable possible increase or decrease of 10% in jet fuel price, with volume of fuel consumed and all other variables held constant, would have increased or decreased the fuel costs by approximately RMB2,551 million. The sensitivity analysis of jet fuel price risk is disclosed in Note 4(e) to the consolidated financial statements.
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to market risks due to fluctuations in interest rates. The majority of our borrowings and lease liabilities are in the form of long-term fixed-rate and variable-rate. Fluctuations in interest rates can lead to significant fluctuations in the fair value of such debt instruments.
Interest rate swaps, denominated in United States Dollars (“USD”), have been entered into to mitigate our cash flow interest rate risk. The interest rate swaps allow our Company to pay at fixed rate from 1.64% to 1.72% to receive LIBOR. The notional principal of the outstanding interest rate swap contracts as at December 31, 2021 amounted to USD190 million (December 31, 2020: USD258 million), and the fair value of the interest rate swaps was RMB20 million recognized in liabilities as of December 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: RMB53 million recognized in liabilities).
Cross currency swaps have been entered into mitigate interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. As at December 31, 2020, the cross currency swaps allow our Company to exchange the floating interest rate and principal payments in USD for fixed interest rate from 3.39% to 3.67% and principal payments in Renminbi. At December 31, 2019, the fair value of the cross currency swaps amounted to RMB187 million was recognized in assets. As at December 31, 2020, all cross currency swaps had been settled.
The sensitivity analysis of interest rate risk is disclosed in Note 4(b) to the consolidated financial statements.
104
The following table provides information regarding our other financial instruments (excluding lease contracts in accordance with Item 305 of Regulation
S-K)
that are sensitive to changes in interest rate as of December 31, 2021 and 2020: | As of December 31, 2021 Expected Maturity Date (RMB Equivalent in million) |
As of December 31, 2020 (RMB Equivalent in million) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Thereafter | Total recorded amount |
Fair Value(2) |
Total Recorded amount |
Fair Value(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank and other loans |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed rate bank and other loans in US$ |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable rate bank and other loans in US$ |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate (1) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed rate bank and other loans in RMB |
57,858 | 18,558 | 10,507 | 1,024 | 5,013 | 232 | 93,192 | 93,192 | 75,862 | 75,862 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate |
2.45 | % | 1.98 | % | 3.20 | % | 3.30 | % | 6.48 | % | 3.88 | % | 2.67 | % | 3.18 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable rate bank and other loans in RMB |
55 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 97 | 2,764 | 3,075 | 3,075 | 2,371 | 2,371 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average interest rate (1) |
3.45 | % | 3.47 | % | 3.47 | % | 3.47 | % | 3.73 | % | 3.56 | % | 3.56 | % | 3.51 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Variable interest rates are calculated based on the year end indices. |
| (2) | Fair value of debt instruments was estimated based on the interest rates applicable to similar debt instruments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. |
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We are also exposed to foreign currency risk as a result of our aircraft and flight equipment being sourced from overseas suppliers. Specifically, our foreign currency exposure relates primarily to our foreign currency lease liabilities and long-term bank and other loans used to finance such capital expenditures and our capital commitments. Subject to certain restrictive conditions imposed by the SAFE, we may, from time to time, enter into foreign exchange forward option contracts to mitigate our foreign currency exposures. The sensitivity analysis of foreign currency risk is disclosed in Note 4(c) to the consolidated Financial Statements.
The Group entered into forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts to mitigate its forward currency risk, and all the forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts have been settled in 2021. As at December 31, 2020, the fair value of the forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts amounted to RMB56 million was recognised in liabilities, with notional principal amounted to USD400 million.
As of December 31, 2021, we operated a total of 561 aircraft under leases. Certain of the leases are at rates that are substantially fixed. Such leases expose us to market risks. However, in accordance with Item 305 of Regulation
S-K,
such leases have been excluded from the following market risk tables. 105
The following table provides information regarding our material foreign currency sensitive financial instruments and capital commitments as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:
As of December 31, 2021 Expected Maturity Date or Transaction Date (RMB Equivalent in million) |
As of December 31, 2020 (RMB Equivalent in million) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
Thereafter |
Total Recorded Amount |
Fair Value |
Total Recorded Amount |
Fair Value |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable rate bank and other loans in US$ |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital commitment in US$ |
33,165 | 15,093 | 6,404 | — | — | — | 54,662 | 54,662 | 56,547 | 56,547 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ITEM 12. |
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES |
For description of the rights of each class of securities that is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act as of December 31, 2021, please refer to Exhibit 2.3 of this Annual Report.
A. DEBT SECURITIES
None
B. WARRANTS AND RIGHTS
None
C. OTHER SECURITIES
None
D. AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
The Bank of New York Mellon collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The Bank of New York Mellon collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The Bank of New York Mellon may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deductions from cash distributions, by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The Bank of New York Mellon may generally refuse to provide
fee-attracting
services until its fees for those services are paid. 106
| Persons depositing or withdrawing shares must pay: |
For: | |
| $5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) | • Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property • Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates | |
| $.02 (or less) per ADS | • Any cash distribution to ADS registered holders | |
| A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs | • Distribution of securities to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADS registered holders | |
| $.02 (or less) per ADSs per calendar year | • Depositary services | |
| Registration or transfer fees | • Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares | |
| Expenses of the depositary | • Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement) • Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars | |
| Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes | • As necessary | |
| Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities | • As necessary | |
Fees and Payments from the Depositary to Us
In 2021, we received from the depositary a reimbursement of US$0 net of withholding tax, for continuing annual stock exchange listing fees and expenses incurred by our Company in connection with the administration and maintenance of the depositary receipt facility.
Indirect payments
As part of the service to our Company, the Bank of New York Mellon waived a total amount of US$113,361.61 for the standard costs associated with the administration of the ADS program in 2021.
PART II
ITEM 13. |
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES |
None.
ITEM 14. |
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
A. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
107
B. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF REGISTERED SECURITIES BY ISSUING OR MODIFYING ANY OTHER CLASS OF SECURITIES
None.
C. WITHDRAWAL OR SUBSTITUTION OF A MATERIAL AMOUNT OF THE ASSETS SECURING ANY REGISTERED SECURITIES
Not applicable.
D. CHANGE OF TRUSTEES OR PAYING AGENTS FOR ANY REGISTERED SECURITIES
Not applicable.
E. USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
ITEM 15. |
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Disclosure controls and procedures
Our President and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Exchange Act Rules
13a-15(e)
or 15d-15(e)),
and concluded that, based on their evaluation, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and were also effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules
13a-15(f)
and 15d-15(f)
under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of a company’s assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that a company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of a company’s management and directors, and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of a company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. Our management has assessed the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
108
KPMG Huazhen LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, and, as part of the audit, has issued a report, included herein, on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
China Southern Airlines Company Limited:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited China Southern Airlines Company Limited and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity, and consolidated cash flow statements for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated April 28, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
109
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG Huazhen LLP
Guangzhou, China
April 28, 2022
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
During the year ended December 31, 2021, there has been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16A. |
AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
Our Board has determined that Mr. Gu Huizhong qualifies as an audit and risk management committee financial expert in accordance with the terms of Item 16A of Form
20-F.
Mr. Gu Huizhong satisfies as an “independent director” within the meaning of NYSE Manual Section 303A and meets the criteria for independence set forth in Section 10A(m)(3) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees”. ITEM 16B. |
CODE OF ETHICS |
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The code of ethics is filed as Exhibit 11.1 to this Annual Report, and a copy of which will be provided to any person free of charge upon written request to Xie Bing, Company Secretary, China Southern Airlines Company Limited at 68 Qi Xin Road, Guangzhou 510403, the People’s Republic of China.
ITEM 16C. |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
KPMG Huazhen LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, served as our principal accountant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021. The following table sets forth the aggregate audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees of our principal accountants for each of the fiscal years of 2020 and 2021:
Audit Fees |
Audit-Related Fees |
Tax Fees |
Other Fees |
|||||||||||
RMB (in million) |
RMB (in million) |
RMB (in million) |
RMB (in million) |
|||||||||||
| 2020 |
17.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | — | ||||||||||
| 2021 |
13.7 | — | 1.1 | — | ||||||||||
Audit fees (VAT tax inclusive) include the aggregate fees in each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of our annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the auditors in connection with and regulatory filing or engagements.
Audit-related fees (VAT tax inclusive) represent the fees relating to capital verification services.
Tax fees (VAT tax inclusive) consisted of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.
110
Our audit and risk management committee
pre-approved
all audit and non-audit
services performed by our principal accountant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021. ITEM 16D. |
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE |
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E. |
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
None.
ITEM 16F. |
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT |
Not applicable.
ITEM 16G. |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Set out below is a summary of any significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”):
111
| NYSE corporate governance rules |
Hong Kong corporate governance rules |
Our Company’s governance practices | ||
| Director Independence A listed company must have a majority of independent directors on its board of directors. No director qualifies as “independent” unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). In addition, a director must meet certain standards to be deemed independent. For example, a director is not independent if the director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of the listed company, or if the director has received, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, more than US$120,000 in direct compensation from the listed company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service). |
Under the Hong Kong Listing Rules, independence is more likely to be questioned under certain circumstances, such as if the director has specified interests in the issued shares or business of the listed company, or relationship with a director, chief executive or a substantial shareholder of the listed company, or is financially dependent on the listed company. The Hong Kong Listing Rules require that each independent non-executive director must provide an annual confirmation of his independence to the listed company. |
It is required in China that any listed company must establish an independent director system and set forth specific requirements for the qualification of independent directors. For example, an independent director shall not hold any other position in the listed company other than being a director and shall not be influenced by the main shareholders or the controlling persons of the listed company, or by any other entities or persons with whom the listed company has a significant relationship. Our Company has complied with the relevant Chinese corporate governance rules and the relevant requirements of the Hong Kong Listing Rules, and has implemented internal rules governing the independence and responsibilities of independent directors. Our Company assesses the independence of independent directors every year. | ||
| Executive Sessions The non-management directors of each listed company must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. |
The Corporate Governance Code as set out in Appendix 14 to the Hong Kong Listing Rules requires that the chairman should at least annually hold meetings with the non-executive directors (including independent non-executive directors) without the executive directors present. |
A meeting was held on August 27, 2021 by the chairman of our Board with independent non-executive directors and without presence of the other directors. |
112
| NYSE corporate governance rules |
Hong Kong corporate governance rules |
Our Company’s governance practices | ||
| Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee Listed companies must have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. The nominating/corporate governance committee must have a written charter that addresses the committee’s purposes and responsibilities which, at minimum, must be to: identify individuals qualified to become board members, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and to select, or to recommend that the board select, the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders; develop and recommend to the board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to the corporation; and oversee the evaluation of the board and management, and evaluate the performance of the committee every year. |
The Hong Kong Listing Rules requires that, a listed company should establish a nomination committee which is chaired by the chairman of the board or an independent non-executive director and comprises a majority of independent non-executive directors. The primary duties of the nomination committee include: (a) review the structure, size and composition (including the skills, knowledge and experience) of the board at least annually and make recommendations on any proposed changes to the board to complement the issuer’s corporate strategy; (b) identify individuals suitably qualified to become board members and select or make recommendations to the board on the selection of individuals nominated for directorships; (c) assess the independence of independent non-executive directors; and (d) make recommendations to the board on the appointment or reappointment of directors and succession planning for directors, in particular the chairman and the chief executive. |
Our Company has established a Nomination Committee. As of December 31, 2021 the Nomination Committee consisted of three members, including Mr. Gu Huizhong (independent non-executive director) as chairman, together with Mr. Ma Xulun (Chairman) and Mr. Liu Changle (independent non-executive director) as members. The responsibilities of the Nomination Committee are to make recommendations to the Board in respect of the size and composition of the Board based on the operational activities, assets and shareholding structure of the company; study the selection criteria and procedures of directors and management and give advice to the Board by consideration of the board diversity policy; identify qualified candidates for directors and management; investigate and propose candidates for directors and management and other senior management members to the Board. | ||
| Compensation Committee Listed companies must have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. |
The Hong Kong Listing Rules requires that a listed company must establish a remuneration committee chaired by an independent non-executive director and comprising a majority of independent non-executive directors. |
Our Company has established a Remuneration and Assessment Committee. As of December 31, 2021, the Remuneration and Assessment Committee consisted of three members and was chaired by Mr. Guo Wei (independent non-executive director), together with Mr. Han Wensheng (Vice Chairman) and Mr. Gu Huizhong (independent non-executive director) as members. | ||
113
| NYSE corporate governance rules |
Hong Kong corporate governance rules |
Our Company’s governance practices | ||
| The written charter of the compensation committee must state, at least, the following purposes and responsibilities: (1) review and approve the corporate goals associated with CEO’s compensation, evaluate the performance of the CEO in fulfilling these goals, and based on such evaluation determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level; (2) make recommendations to the board with respect to non-CEO executive officer compensation, and incentive-compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to board approval;(3) produce a committee report on executive compensation as required by the SEC to be included in the annual proxy statement or annual report filed with the SEC. |
The responsibilities of our Remuneration and Assessment Committee are similar to those stipulated by the NYSE rules, but the committee is not required to produce a report on the executive compensation or make an annual performance evaluation of the committee. The responsibilities of the Remuneration and Assessment Committee are to approve the remuneration packages of directors and senior management of our Group, and our Company’s “preliminary proposals on annual emoluments of the directors and senior management of our Group”. The Remuneration and Assessment Committee is also responsible for assessing performance of executive director and approving the terms of executive directors’ service contracts. | |||
| Audit and risk management committee Listed companies must have an audit and risk management committee that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 of Exchange Act. It must have a minimum of three members, and all audit and risk management committee members must satisfy the requirements for independence set forth in Section 303A.02 of NYSE Corporate Governance Rules as well as the requirements of Rule 10A-3b (1) of the Exchange Act.The charter must also include the requirement for an annual performance evaluation of the compensation committee. |
In accordance with the Hong Kong Listing Rules, every listed company must establish an audit committee comprising non-executive directors only. The audit committee must comprise a minimum of three members, at least one of whom is an independent non-executive director with appropriate professional qualifications or accounting or related financial management expertise. The majority of the audit committee members must be independent non-executive directors. The audit committee must be chaired by an independent non-executive director. |
Our Company has established an Audit and Risk Management Committee that satisfies relevant domestic requirements and the Audit and Risk Management Committee has a written charter. As of December 31, 2021, the Audit and Risk Management Committee consisted of three members and was chaired by Mr. Gu Huizhong, with Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Yan Andrew Y (independent non-executive director) as the members. | ||
| The written charter of the audit committee must specify that the purpose of the audit committee is to assist the board oversight of the integrity of financial statements, the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, qualifications and independence of independent auditors and the performance of the listed company’s internal audit function and independent auditors. |
The responsibilities of the Audit and Risk Management Committee are similar to those stipulated by the NYSE rules, but according to the domestic practices, our Company is not required to make an annual performance evaluation of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Audit and Risk Management Committee is not required to prepare an audit report to be included in our Company’s annual proxy statement. | |||
114
| NYSE corporate governance rules |
Hong Kong corporate governance rules |
Our Company’s governance practices | ||
| The written charter must also require the audit committee to prepare an audit committee report as required by the SEC to be included in the listed company’s annual proxy statement as well as an annual performance evaluation of the audit committee. | ||||
| Shareholder Approval of Equity Compensation Plans Shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on equity-compensation plans and material revisions thereto, except for employment incentive plans, certain awards and plans in the context of mergers and acquisitions. |
There are no similar requirements under the Hong Kong Listing Rules. |
The relevant regulations of China require our Board to propose plans and types of director compensation for the shareholders’ meeting to approve. The compensation plan of executive officers is subject to approval by our Board and disclosed to the public upon the approval of our Board. The approval of director compensation and compensation plan of executive officers of our Company satisfies relevant domestic requirements. | ||
| Corporate Governance Guidelines Listed companies must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines, involving director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and, as necessary and appropriate, independent advisors, director compensation, director orientation continuing education, management succession and annual performance evaluation of the board of directors, etc. |
Under the Hong Kong Listing Rules, we are expected to comply with, but may choose to deviate from, the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code as set out in Appendix 14 to the Hong Kong Listing Rules, which sets out the principles of good corporate governance for listed companies. However, we are required to disclose the reasons for deviation, if any, in our interim and annual reports. |
Our Company has complied with the Corporate Governance Code as set out in Appendix 14 to the Hong Kong Listing Rules. We also complied with the Corporate Governance Rules issued by CSRC. | ||
| Certification Requirements Each listed company CEO must certify to the NYSE each year that he or she is not aware of any violation by the company of NYSE corporate governance listing standards and he or she must promptly notify the NYSE in writing of any material non-compliance with any applicable provisions of Section 303A. |
There are no similar requirements under the Hong Kong Listing Rules. |
There are no similar requirements under the domestic corporate governance rules in China. | ||
| Each listed company must submit an executed Written Affirmation annually to the NYSE. In addition, each listed company must submit an interim Written Affirmation as and when required by the interim Written Affirmation form specified by the NYSE. | ||||
ITEM 16H. |
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE |
Not applicable.
115
ITEM 16I. |
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS |
Not applicable.
ITEM 17. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
We have elected to provide the financial statements and related information specified in Item 18 in lieu of Item 17.
ITEM 18. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
See
F-pages
following Item 19. ITEM 19. |
EXHIBITS |
116
117
118
119
| * | Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request, and the full, unredacted document has been separately submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission with a confidential treatment request |
| (1) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 2.1 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2013. |
| (2) | Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-07116), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2012. |
| (3) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.1 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
| (4) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.2 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006. |
| (5) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.4 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2013. |
| (6) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.6 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2016. |
| (7) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.7 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2016. |
| (8) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.8 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2016. |
| (9) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.9 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2016. |
| (10) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.11 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2014. |
| (11) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.10 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2009. |
| (12) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.11 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2013. |
| (13) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.23 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2015. |
| (14) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.35 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (15) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.36 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (16) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.37 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (17) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.38 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (18) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.39 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (19) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.40 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (20) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.41 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (21) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.42 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017. |
| (22) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.43 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
| (23) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.44 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
| (24) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.45 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
| (25) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.46 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
| (26) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.47 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
120
| (27) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.49 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
| (28) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.29 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018. |
| (29) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.31 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2019. |
| (30) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.32 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2019. |
| (31) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.33 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2019. |
| (32) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.34 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2019. |
| (33) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.35 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2019. |
| (34) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.34 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (35) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.35 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (36) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.36 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (37) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.37 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (38) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.38 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (39) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.39 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (40) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.40 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (41) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.41 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (42) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.42 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (43) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.43 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
| (44) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.42 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2021. |
| (45) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.43 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2021. |
| (46) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.44 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2021. |
| (47) | Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 11.1 to our Form 20-F (File No. 001-14660) for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2020. |
121
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
20-F
and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf. | CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES COMPANY LIMITED | ||
| /s/ Ma Xulun | ||
| Name: Ma Xulun | ||
| Title: Chairman of the Board and Executive Director | ||
Date: April 28, 2022
122
CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES COMPANY LIMITED
AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| Page |
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F-2 |
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F-5 |
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F-6 |
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F-7 |
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F-9 |
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F-10 |
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F-11 |
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F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
China Southern Airlines Company Limited:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of China Southern Airlines Company Limited and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity, and consolidated cash flow statements for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated April 28, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
F-2
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Assessment of value in use of aircraft and related equipment
As discussed in Note 19(a) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reported aircraft and related equipment in the amount of RMB199,407 million as of December 31, 2021. The Company recognized RMB2,579 million of impairment loss on aircraft and related equipment for the year ended December 31, 2021. As discussed in Note 2(l)(iii), at the end of each reporting period, if any indication of impairment exists, the Company estimates the recoverable amount of an asset, or a cash-generating unit, at the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use, to determine the impairment losses. The Company’s estimated value in use includes assumptions on traffic revenue growth rates, related operating costs growth rates (“forecasted growth rates”) and discount rates.
We identified the assessment of value in use of aircraft and related equipment as a critical audit matter. The estimate of value in use of aircraft and related equipment involved a high degree of subjectivity and auditor judgment to evaluate the Company’s assumptions on the forecasted growth rates and discount rates. The forecasted growth rates and the discount rates used to estimate value in use for impairment of aircraft and related equipment are challenging to test as minor changes to those assumptions would have a significant effect on the Company’s impairment assessment of aircraft and related equipment.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s process in assessing the value in use of aircraft and related equipment. This includes controls related to the development of forecasted growth rates and discount rates used in determining the value in use of aircraft and related equipment. We assessed the reasonableness of the Company’s forecasted growth rates based on the Company’s future operation plans. We assessed the forecasted growth rates assumptions adopted in the Company’s value in use assessment by comparing them with internally and externally derived data. We evaluated the Company’s ability to accurately forecast by comparing the Company’s historical forecasted growth rates to the actual results. We performed sensitivity analysis over the forecasted growth rates and the discount rates assumptions to assess their impact on the Company’s impairment assessment. In addition, we involved our valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the discount rates used by comparing them against discount rates that were independently developed using publicly available industry data.
Assessment of the standalone selling price for mileage awarded
As discussed in Note 39 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s contract liabilities relating to unredeemed mileage awarded was RMB3,061 million as of December 31, 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the revenue recognized in relation to mileage awarded was RMB1,763 million. As discussed in Note 2(z)(ii), the Company allocates the transaction price in relation to mileage earning flights between the flight and mileage awarded on relative standalone selling prices. The Company estimates the standalone selling price of mileage awarded through mileage earning flights based on inputs and assumptions derived from historical data, including the estimates on the percentage of mileage awarded that are expected to be redeemed (“expected redemption rates”). The mileage awarded is recognized in contract liabilities, and subsequently recognized as revenue when the mileage is redeemed and the related benefits are received or used.
We identified assessment of the standalone selling price for mileage awarded as a critical audit matter because of the high degree of subjective auditor judgment required to evaluate the assumptions involved in such assessment, in particular the expected redemption rates which take into consideration expected future mileage redemption patterns.
F-3
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s process to estimate the standalone selling price for mileage awarded. This included controls related to key assumptions utilized in the estimation of the standalone selling price for mileage awarded. We evaluated the Company’s methodology in developing the standalone selling price for mileage awarded and compared the assumptions underlying the expected redemption rates with those of historical periods. We compared the Company’s estimate of the standalone selling price of mileage awarded to the contractual rates at which mileages are sold to other airlines and bank partners. We compared the expected redemption rates to historical experience of mileage redemption. We assessed the impact of changes in the terms of mileage programs and customer behavior on expected redemption rates. We assessed the Company’s ability to accurately forecast by comparing the historical estimate of mileage redemption to actual redemption of mileages. We also performed sensitivity analysis over the expected redemption rates to assess its impact on the associated revenue for mileage awarded.
/s/ KPMG Huazhen LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||
| Operating revenue |
5 | |||||||||||||
| Traffic revenue |
||||||||||||||
| Other operating revenue |
||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total operating revenue |
||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||
| Flight operation expenses |
7 | |||||||||||||
| Maintenance expenses |
8 | |||||||||||||
| Aircraft and transportation service expenses |
9 | |||||||||||||
| Promotion and selling expenses |
10 | |||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses |
11 | |||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
12 | |||||||||||||
| Impairment losses on property, plant and equipment, right-of-use |
19/21/30 | |||||||||||||
| Others |
||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Other net income |
14 | |||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Operating (loss)/profit |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Interest income |
||||||||||||||
| Interest expense |
15 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Exchange gain/(loss), net |
37 | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Share of associates’ results |
24 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Share of joint ventures’ results |
25 | |||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of a subsidiary |
23(v) | ( |
) | — |
||||||||||
| Changes in fair value of financial assets / liabilities |
28 | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Remeasurement of the originally held equity interests in a joint venture |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (Loss)/profit before income tax |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Income tax |
16 | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (Loss)/profit for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (Loss)/profit attributable to: |
||||||||||||||
| Equity shareholders of the Company |
18 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Non-controlling interests |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (Loss)/profit for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (Loss)/earnings per share |
||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted |
18 | RMB | ( |
) | RMB | ( |
) | RMB | ||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
F-5
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||
| (Loss)/profit for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Other comprehensive income: |
17 | |||||||||||||
| Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss |
||||||||||||||
| - Equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income – net movement in fair value reserve (non-recycling) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| - Share of other comprehensive income of an associate |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| - Income tax effect of the above items |
||||||||||||||
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss |
||||||||||||||
| - Cash flow hedge: fair value movement of derivative financial instrument |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| - Differences resulting from the translation of foreign currency financial statements |
— | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| - Share of other comprehensive income of an associate |
( |
) | — | |||||||||||
| - Income tax effect of the above items |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Other comprehensive income for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total comprehensive income attributable to: |
||||||||||||||
| Equity shareholders of the Company |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
F-6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
At December 31, 2021 and 2020
December 31 |
December 31 |
|||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||
| Non-current assets |
||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net |
19 | |||||||||
| Construction in progress |
20 | |||||||||
| Right-of-use |
21 | |||||||||
| Goodwill |
22 | |||||||||
| Interest in associates |
24 | |||||||||
| Interest in joint ventures |
25 | |||||||||
| Aircraft lease deposits |
||||||||||
| Other equity instrument investments |
26 | |||||||||
| Other non-current financial assets |
26 | |||||||||
| Amounts due from related companies |
42 | — | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets |
29(b) | |||||||||
| Other assets |
30 | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Current assets |
||||||||||
| Inventories |
31 | |||||||||
| Trade receivables |
32 | |||||||||
| Other receivables |
33 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
34 | |||||||||
| Assets held for sale |
35 | — | ||||||||
| Restricted bank deposits |
||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
||||||||||
| Amounts due from related companies |
42 | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Current liabilities |
||||||||||
| Derivative financial liabilities |
27 | |||||||||
| Borrowings |
36 | |||||||||
| Lease liabilities |
37 | |||||||||
| Trade payables |
38 | |||||||||
| Contract liabilities |
39 | |||||||||
| Sales in advance of carriage |
40 | |||||||||
| Current income tax |
||||||||||
| Amounts due to related companies |
42 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses |
43 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities |
44 | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
F-7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (CONTINUED)
At December 31, 2021 and 2020
December 31 |
December 31 |
|||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||
| Non-current liabilities |
||||||||||
| Borrowings |
36 | |||||||||
| Lease liabilities |
37 | |||||||||
| Derivative financial liabilities |
27 | |||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities |
41 | |||||||||
| Provision for major overhauls |
45 | |||||||||
| Deferred benefits and gains |
46 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities |
29(b) | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net assets |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Capital and reserves |
||||||||||
| Share capital |
47 | |||||||||
| Reserves |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company |
||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total equity |
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
Approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on 28 April 2022.
| |
| |||
Ma Xu Lun |
Han Wen Sheng | |||
Director |
Director |
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
F-8
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share capital (Note 47) RMB million |
Share premium (Note 48(b)) RMB million |
Fair value reserve (recycling) (Note 48(c)) RMB million |
Fair value reserve (non-recycling) (Note 48(d)) RMB million |
Other reserves (Note 48(e)) RMB million |
Retained Earnings/ (accumulated losses) RMB million |
Total RMB million |
Non- controlling interests RMB million |
Total equity RMB million |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2019 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in equity for 2019: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income |
— | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income |
— | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appropriations to reserves |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends relating to 2018 |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to non-controlling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of non-controlling interests in a subsidiary |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in other reserves |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Balance at December 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in equity for 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income |
— | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income |
— | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Issuance of shares |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of non-controlling interests in a subsidiary (Note 23(vi)) |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital injection from non-controlling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to non-controlling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in non-controlling interests as a result of loss of control of a subsidiary |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in other reserves |
— | — | — | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Balance at December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021 |
( |
) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Changes in equity for 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss for the year |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income |
— | — | ( |
) | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income |
— | — | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to non-controlling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion of convertible bonds to ordinary shares ( Note 47(ii)) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital injection from non-controlling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in non-controlling interests as a result of liquidation of a subsidiary |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Balance at December 31, 2021 |
( |
) |
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|||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
F-9
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||
| Operating activities |
||||||||||||||
| Cash generated from operating activities |
34(b) | |||||||||||||
| Interest received |
||||||||||||||
| Interest paid |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Income tax paid |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
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|
|||||||||
| Net cash generated from operating activities |
||||||||||||||
| |
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|
|||||||||
| Investing activities |
||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired |
— | — | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use |
||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of other financial assets |
— | — | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposal of derivative financial instruments |
— | — | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition of other financial assets |
— | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Dividends received from associates |
||||||||||||||
| Dividends received from joint ventures |
||||||||||||||
| Dividends received from other investments in equity and other non-current financial assets |
||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of term deposits |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Proceeds from maturity of term deposits |
||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of property, plant and equipment and other assets |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Capital injection into an associate |
— | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Acquisition of an associate |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Net refunds of aircraft lease deposits |
— | — | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Financing activities |
||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid to equity shareholders of the Company |
— | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of shares |
— | — | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from bank borrowings |
34(c) | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from corporate bonds |
34(c) | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from ultra-short-term financing bills |
34(c) | |||||||||||||
| Repayment of bank borrowings |
34(c) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Repayment of ultra-short-term financing bills |
34(c) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Repayment of corporate bonds |
34(c) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Capital element of lease rentals paid |
34(c) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Capital injections from non-controlling interests |
— | |||||||||||||
| Payment for purchase of non-controlling interest |
— | ( |
) | — | ||||||||||
| Refund of aircraft lease deposits |
— | |||||||||||||
| Payments for aircraft lease deposits |
( |
) | — | — | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid to non-controlling interests |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Net cash generated from / (used in) financing activities |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 |
||||||||||||||
| Exchange (loss)/gain on cash and cash equivalents |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at December 31 |
34(a) | |||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
F-10
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
1 |
Corporate information |
China Southern Airlines Company Limited (the “Company”), a joint stock limited company, was incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) on March 25, 1995. The address of the Company’s registered office is Unit 301, 3/F, Office Tower, Guanhao Science Park Phase I, 12 Yuyan Street, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the PRC. The Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) are principally engaged in the operation of civil aviation, including the provision of passenger, cargo, mail delivery and other extended transportation services.
The Company’s majority interest is owned by China Southern Air Holding Company Limited (“CSAH”), a state-owned enterprise incorporated in the PRC.
The Company’s shares are traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the New York Stock Exchange.
2 |
Significant accounting policies |
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with all applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”), which collective term includes all applicable individual IFRSs, International Accounting Standards (“IASs”) and Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”). Significant accounting policies adopted by the Group are disclosed below.
The IASB has issued certain amendments to IFRSs that are first effective or available for early adoption for the current accounting period of the Group. Note 2(b) provides information on any changes in accounting policies resulting from initial application of these developments to the extent that they are relevant to the Group for the current accounting period reflected in these consolidated financial statements.
(a) Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements comprise the Group and the Group’s interest in associates and joint ventures.
The measurement basis used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements is the historical cost basis except that the following assets and liabilities are stated at their fair value as explained in the accounting policies set out below:
| • | other equity instrument investments (see Note 2(f)); |
| • | other non-current financial assets(FVPL) (see Note 2(f)); and |
| • | derivative financial assets / liabilities (see Note 2(g)). |
Non-current
assets (or disposal groups) held for sale are stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell (see Note 2(r)). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
F-11
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(a) |
Basis of preparation (continued) |
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
Judgements made by management in the application of IFRSs that have significant effect on the financial statements and major sources of estimation uncertainty are discussed in Note 3.
(b) Changes |
in accounting policies |
(A) |
Amendments to IFRSs that are first effective for the year ended December 31, 2021 |
The Group has applied the following amendments to IFRSs issued by the IASB to these financial statements for the current accounting period:
| • | Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16, Interest rate benchmark reform — phase 2 |
| • | Amendment to IFRS 16, Covid-19-related |
Other than the amendment to IFRS 16, the Group has not applied any new standard or interpretation that is not yet effective for the current accounting period. Impacts of the adoption of the amended IFRSs are discussed below:
Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16,
Interest rate benchmark reform — phase 2
The amendments provide targeted reliefs from (i) accounting for changes in the basis for determining contractual cash flows of financial assets, financial liabilities and lease liabilities as modifications, and (ii) discontinuing hedge accounting when an interest rate benchmark is replaced by an alternative benchmark rate as a result of the reform of interbank offered rates (“IBOR reform”). The adoption of the amendments does not have any material impact on the financial position and the financial result of the Group.
Amendment to IFRS 16, rent concessions beyond June(“2021 amendment”)
Covid-19-related
30, 2021
The Group previously applied the practical expedient in IFRS 16 to all leases except for aircraft and engine leases such that as lessee it was not required to assess whether rent concessions occurring as a direct consequence of the
COVID-19
pandemic were lease modifications, if the eligibility conditions are met (see Note 2(k)). One of these conditions requires the reduction in lease payments affect only payments originally due on or before a specified time limit. The 2021 amendment extends this time limit from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The Group has early adopted the 2021 amendment in this financial year. The adoption of 2021 amendment does not have any material impact on the financial position and the financial result of the Group.
F-12
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(b) |
Changes in accounting policies (continued) |
(B) |
Amendments to IFRSs that are first effective for the year ended December 31, 2020 |
The Group has applied the following amendments to IFRSs issued by the IASB to these financial statements for the current accounting period:
| • | Amendments to IFRS 3, Definition of a Business |
| • | Amendment to IFRS 16, COVID-19-Related |
Other than the amendment to IFRS 16, the Group has not applied any new standard or interpretation that is not yet effective for the current accounting period. Impacts of the adoption of the amended IFRSs are discussed below:
Amendments to IFRS 3,
Definition of a Business
The amendments clarify the definition of a business and provide further guidance on how to determine whether a transaction represents a business combination. In addition, the amendments introduce an optional “concentration test” that permits a simplified assessment of whether an acquired set of activities and assets is an asset rather than business acquisition, when substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. The amendments do not have any material impact on the financial position and the financial result of the Group.
Amendment to IFRS 16, Rent Concessions
COVID-19-Related
The amendment provides a practical expedient that allows a lessee to ”) are lease modifications and, instead, account for those rent concessions as if they were not lease modifications.
by-pass
the need to evaluate whether certain qualifying rent concessions occurring as a direct consequence of the COVID-19
pandemic (“COVID-19-Related
Rent ConcessionsThe Group has elected to early adopt the amendments and applies the practical expedient to all qualifying Rent Concessions granted to the Group except for aircraft and engine leases from January 1, 2020. Consequently, rent concessions received have been accounted for as negative variable lease payments recognized in profit or loss in the period in which the event or condition that triggers those payments occurred (see Note 21). There is no impact on the opening balance of equity at January 1, 2020.
COVID-19-Related
F-13
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(c) |
Subsidiaries and non-controlling interests |
Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. When assessing whether the Group has power, only substantive rights (held by the Group and other parties) are considered.
An investment in a subsidiary is consolidated into the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. Intra-group transactions, balances and cash flows and any unrealized profits arising from intra-group transactions are eliminated in full in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealized losses resulting from intra-group transactions are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment. Amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted to conform with the Group’s accounting policies.
Non-controlling
interests represent the equity in a subsidiary not attributable directly or indirectly to the Company, and in respect of which the Group has not agreed any additional terms with the holders of those interests which would result in the Group as a whole having a contractual obligation in respect of those interests that meets the definition of a financial liability. For each business combination, the Group recognized non-controlling
interests based on the non-controlling
interests’ proportionate share of the subsidiary’s net identifiable assets. Non-controlling
interests are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, separately from equity attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company. Non-controlling
interests in the results of the Group are presented on the face of the consolidated income statement and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as an allocation of the total profit or loss and total comprehensive income for the year between non-controlling
interests and the equity shareholders of the Company. Loans from holders of non-controlling
interests and other contractual obligations towards these holders are presented as financial liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position in accordance with Note 2(p) or Note 2(q) depending on the nature of the liability. Changes in the Group’s interests in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions, whereby adjustments are made to the amounts of controlling and
non-controlling
interests within consolidated equity to reflect the change in relative interests, but no adjustments are made to goodwill and no gain or loss is recognized. When the Group loses control of a subsidiary, it is accounted for as a disposal of the entire interest in that subsidiary, with a resulting gain or loss being recognized in consolidated income statement. Any interest retained in that former subsidiary at the date when control is lost is recognized at fair value and this amount is regarded as the fair value on initial recognition of a financial asset (Note 2(f)) or, when appropriate, the cost on initial recognition of an investment in an associate or joint venture (Note 2(d)).
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred in the acquisition is generally measured at fair value, as are the identifiable net assets acquired. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
The consideration transferred does not include amounts related to the settlement of
pre-existing
relationships. Such amounts are generally recognized in profit or loss. Any contingent consideration is measured at fair value at the date of acquisition. If an obligation to pay contingent consideration that meets the definition of a financial instrument is classified as equity, then it is not remeasured and settlement is accounted for within equity. Otherwise, other contingent consideration is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date and subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognized in profit or loss.
F-14
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(d) |
Associates and joint arrangements |
An associate is an entity in which the Group has significant influence, but not control or joint control, over its management, including participation in the financial and operating policy decisions.
The Group has applied IFRS 11, (“IFRS 11”) to all joint arrangements. Under IFRS 11, investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures depending on the contractual rights and obligations of each investor. The Group has assessed the nature of its joint arrangements and determined them to be joint ventures.
Joint Arrangements
An investment in an associate or a joint venture is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements under the equity method and is initially recorded at cost, adjusted for any excess of the Group’s share of the acquisition-date fair values of the investee’s identifiable net assets over the cost of the investment (if any). Thereafter, the investment is adjusted for the post acquisition change in the Group’s share of the investee’s net assets and any impairment loss relating to the investment (Notes 2(e) and 2(l)(iii)). At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether there is any objective evidence that the investment is impaired. The Group’s share of the post-acquisition,
post-tax
results of the investees, adjusted for any acquisition-date excess over cost and any impairment losses for the year are recognized in the consolidated income statement, whereas the Group’s share of the post-acquisition post-tax
items of the investees’ other comprehensive income is recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. When the Group’s share of losses exceeds its interest in the associate or the joint venture, the Group’s interest is reduced to nil and recognition of further losses is discontinued except to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the investee. For this purpose, the Group’s interest is the carrying amount of the investment under the equity method together with the Group’s long-term interests that in substance form part of the Group’s net investment in the associate or the joint venture.
Unrealized profits and losses resulting from transactions between the Group and its associates and joint ventures are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the investee, except where unrealized losses provide evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred, in which case they are recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement.
F-15
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(e) |
Goodwill |
Goodwill represents the excess of
| (i) | the aggregate of the fair value of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the fair value of the Group’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree; over |
| (ii) | the net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets and liabilities measured as at the acquisition date. |
When (ii) is greater than (i), then this excess is recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement as a gain on a bargain purchase.
Goodwill is stated at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill arising on a business combination is allocated to each cash-generating unit, or groups of cash generating units, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination and is tested annually for impairment (Note 2(l)(iii)).
(f) |
Other investments in debt and equity securities |
The Group’s policies for investments in debt and equity securities, other than investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, are set out below.
Investments in debt and equity securities are recognized / derecognized on the date the Group commits to purchase / sell the investment. The investments are initially stated at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs, except for those investments measured at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL) for which transaction costs are recognized directly in profit or loss. For an explanation of how the Group determines fair value of financial instruments, see Note 4(g)(i). These investments are subsequently accounted for as follows, depending on their classification.
| (i) | Investments other than equity investments |
Non-equity
investments held by the Group are classified into one of the following measurement categories: | • | amortized cost, if the investment is held for the collection of contractual cash flows which represent solely payments of principal and interest. Interest income from the investment is calculated using the effective interest method (Note 2(z)(v)). |
| • | fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) - recycling, if the contractual cash flows of the investment comprise solely payments of principal and interest and the investment is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both the collection of contractual cash flows and sale. Changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income, except for the recognition in profit or loss of expected credit losses, interest income (calculated using the effective interest method) and foreign exchange gains and losses. When the investment is derecognized, the amount accumulated in other comprehensive income is recycled from equity to profit or loss. |
| • | fair value at profit or loss (FVPL) if the investment does not meet the criteria for being measured at amortized cost or FVOCI (recycling). Changes in the fair value of the investment (including interest) are recognized in profit or loss. |
F-16
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(f) |
Other investments in debt and equity securities (continued) |
| (ii) | Equity investments |
An investment in equity securities is classified as FVPL unless the equity investment is not held for trading purposes and on initial recognition of the investment the Group makes an irrevocable election to designate the investment at FVOCI basis, but may only be made if the investment meets the definition of equity from the issuer’s perspective. Where such an election is made, the amount accumulated in other comprehensive income remains in the fair value reserve
(non-recycling)
such that subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income. Such elections are made on an instrument-by-instrument
(non-recycling)
until the investment is disposed of. At the time of disposal, the amount accumulated in the fair value reserve (non-recycling)
is transferred to retained earnings. It is not recycled through profit or loss. Dividends from an investment in equity securities, irrespective of whether classified as at FVPL or FVOCI, are recognized in profit or loss as other income in accordance with the policy set out in Note 2(z)(iv). (g) |
Derivative financial instruments |
Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value. The method of recognizing the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged.
The Group documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedging transactions. The Group also documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.
Derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are accounted for as trading instruments and any unrealized gains or losses, being changes in fair value of the derivatives, are recognized in the profit or loss immediately.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges and that are highly effective, are recorded in the profit or loss, along with any changes in the fair value of the hedged assets or liabilities that are attributable to the hedged risk.
Derivative financial instruments that qualify for hedge accounting and which are designated as a specific hedge of the variability in cash flows of a highly probable forecast transaction, are accounted for as follows:
| (i) | The effective portion of any gains or losses on remeasurement of the derivative financial instruments to fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated separately in equity in the fair value reserve. The cumulative gain or loss on the derivative financial instruments recognized in other comprehensive income is reclassified from equity to profit or loss in the same period during which the hedged forecast cash flows affects profit or loss; and |
| (ii) | The ineffective portion of any gains or losses on remeasurement of the derivative financial instruments to fair value is recognized in the profit or loss immediately. |
When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gains or losses existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognized in the profit or loss when the committed or forecast transaction ultimately occurs. When a committed or forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gains or losses that was recorded in equity is immediately transferred to the profit or loss.
F-17
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(h) |
Investment properties |
Investment properties are land held under a lease and / or buildings which are owned to earn rental income and/or for capital appreciation.
Investment properties are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses (Note 2(l)(iii)). Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of items of investment properties, less their estimated residual value, if any, using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or lease term. Rental income from investment properties is accounted for as described in Note 2(z)(iii).
(i) |
Other property, plant and equipment |
Other property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses (Note 2(l)(iii)).
The cost of self-constructed items of property, plant and equipment includes the cost of materials, direct labor, the initial estimate, where relevant, of the costs of dismantling and removing the items and restoring the site on which they are located, and an appropriate proportion of production overheads and borrowing costs (Note 2(ab)).
Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the consolidated income statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.
When each major aircraft overhaul is performed, its cost is recognized in the carrying amount of the component of aircraft and is depreciated over the appropriate maintenance cycles. Components related to airframe overhaul cost, are depreciated on a straight-line basis over 6 to 12 years. Components related to engine overhaul cost, are depreciated on the units of production method over the expected flying hours of
9-42 thousand
hours. Upon completion of an overhaul, any remaining carrying amount of the cost of the previous overhaul is derecognized and charged to the consolidated income statement. Except for components related to overhaul costs, the depreciation of other property, plant and equipment is calculated to write off the cost of items, less their estimated residual value, if any, using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Buildings |
||||
Owned aircraft |
||||
Other flight equipment |
||||
– Jet engines |
||||
– Others, including rotables |
||||
Machinery , equipment and vehicles |
Where parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, the cost of the item is allocated on a reasonable basis between the parts and each part is depreciated separately. Both the useful life of an asset and its residual value, if any, are reviewed annually.
Gains or losses arising from the retirement or disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the item and are recognized in consolidated income statement on the date of retirement or disposal.
F-18
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(j) |
Construction in progress |
Construction in progress represents advance payments for the acquisition of aircraft and flight equipment, office buildings, various infrastructure projects under construction and equipment pending for installation, and is stated at cost less impairment losses (Note 2(l)(iii)). Capitalization of these costs ceases and the construction in progress is transferred to property, plant and equipment when the asset is substantially ready for its intended use, notwithstanding any delay in the issue of the relevant commissioning certificates by the relevant PRC authorities.
No depreciation is provided in respect of construction in progress.
(k) |
Leased assets |
At inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control is conveyed where the customer has both the right to direct the use of the identified asset and to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from that use.
| (1) | As a lessee |
For a contract that contains more than a lease, a lessee and lessor shall separate the contract and account for each lease component respectively. For a contract that contains lease and
non-lease
components, a lessee and lessor shall separate lease components from non-lease
components. However, when the Group is a lessee of land use right and buildings, the Group has elected not to separate non-lease
components from lease components, and instead, account for each lease component and any associated non-lease
components as a single lease component. When separate lease components from non-lease
components, a lessee shall allocate the consideration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of the relative stand-alone price of the lease component and the aggregate stand-alone price of the non-lease
components. At the lease commencement date, the Group recognizes a assets and a lease liability, except for short-term leases that have a lease term of 12 months or less and leases of basis. The lease payments associated with those leases which are not capitalized are recognized as an expense on a systematic basis over the lease term.
right-of-use
low-value
assets. When the Group enters into a lease in respect of a low-value
asset, the Group decides whether to capitalize the lease on a lease-by-lease
Where the lease is capitalized, the lease liability is initially recognized at the present value of the lease payments payable over the lease term, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, using a relevant incremental borrowing rate. After initial recognition, the lease liability is measured at amortized cost and interest expense is calculated using the effective interest method. Variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate are not included in the measurement of the lease liability and hence are charged to profit or loss in the accounting period in which they are incurred.
The assets recognized when a lease is capitalized is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability plus any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, and any initial direct costs incurred. Where applicable, the cost of the assets also includes an estimate of costs to dismantle and remove the underlying asset or to restore the underlying asset or the site on which it is located, discounted to their present value, less any lease incentives received. The assets is subsequently stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses (see Notes 2(i)and 2(l)(iii)).
right-of-use
right-of-use
right-of-use
F-19
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(k) |
Leased assets (continued) |
| (1) | As a lessee (continued) |
For the measurement of component accounting for assets and subsequent major overhaul performed, see Note 2(i).
right-of-use
The cost of acquiring land held under a lease is amortized on a straight-line basis over the respective periods of lease terms which range from 30 to 70 years.
The lease liability is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate, or there is a change in the Group’s estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee, or there is a change arising from the reassessment of whether the Group will be reasonably certain to exercise a purchase, extension or termination option. When the lease liability is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the assets, or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of the assets has been reduced to zero.
right-of-use
right-of-use
The lease liability is also remeasured when there is a change in the scope of a lease or the consideration for a lease that is not originally provided for in the lease contract (“lease modification”) that is not accounted for as a separate lease. In this case the lease liability is remeasured based on the revised lease payments and lease term using a revised discount rate at the effective date of the modification. The only exceptions are rent concessions in relation to all leases except for aircraft and engine leases that occurred as a direct consequence of the
COVID-19
pandemic and met the conditions set out in paragraph 46B of IFRS 16 Leases. In such cases, the Group has taken advantage of the practical expedient not to assess whether the rent concessions are lease modifications, and recognized the change in consideration as negative variable lease payments in profit or loss in the period in which the event or condition that triggers the rent concessions occurred. F-20
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(k) |
Leased assets (continued) |
| (1) | As a lessee (continued) |
In the consolidated statement of financial position, the current portion of long-term lease liabilities is determined as the present value of contractual payments that are due to be settled within twelve months after the reporting period.
The Group presents assets that do not meet the definition of investment property in assets and presents lease liabilities separately in the consolidated statement of financial position.
right-of-use
right-of-use
| (2) | As a lessor |
When the Group acts as a lessor, it determines at lease inception whether each lease is a finance lease or an operating lease. A lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to the ownership of an underlying assets to the lessee. If this is not the case, the lease is classified as an operating lease.
When a contract contains lease and
non-lease
components, the Group allocates the consideration in the contract to each component on a relative stand-alone selling price basis. The rental income from operating leases is recognized in accordance with Note 2(z)(iii). When the Group is an intermediate lessor, the assets arising from the head lease. If the head lease is a short-term lease to which the Group applies the exemption described in Note 2(k)(1), then the Group classifies the
sub-leases
are classified as a finance lease or as an operating lease with reference to the right-of-use
sub-lease
as an operating lease. Under a finance lease, at the commencement date, the Group recognizes the finance lease receivable and derecognizes the finance lease asset. The finance lease receivable is initially measured at an amount equal to the net investment in the lease. The net investment in the lease is measured at the aggregate of the unguaranteed residual value and the present value of the lease receivable that are not received at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease.
The Group recognizes finance income over the lease term, based on a pattern reflecting a constant periodic rate of return. The derecognition and impairment of the finance lease receivable are recognized in accordance with the accounting policy in Note 2(l). Variable lease payments not included in the measurement of net investment in the lease are recognized as income as they are earned.
F-21
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(l) |
Credit losses and impairment of assets |
| (i) | Credit losses from financial instruments and lease receivables |
The Group recognizes a loss allowance for expected credit losses (ECL) on the following items:
| • | financial assets measured at amortized cost (including cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables); and |
| • | lease receivables. |
Financial assets measured at fair value, including equity securities measured at FVPL, equity securities designated at FVOCI
(non-recycling)
and derivative financial assets, are not subject to the ECL assessment. Measurement of ECLs
ECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. Credit losses are measured as the present value of all expected cash shortfalls (i.e. the difference between the cash flows due to the Group in accordance with the contract and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive).
The expected cash shortfalls are discounted using the following discount rates where the effect of discounting is material:
| • | fixed-rate financial assets, and trade and other receivables: effective interest rate determined at initial recognition or an approximation thereof; |
| • | variable-rate financial assets: current effective interest rate; |
| • | lease receivables: discount rate used in the measurement of the lease receivable. |
The maximum period considered when estimating ECLs is the maximum contractual period over which the Group is exposed to credit risk.
In measuring ECLs, the Group takes into account reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort. This includes information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.
ECLs are measured on either of the following bases:
| • | 12-month ECLs: these are losses that are expected to result from possible default events within the 12 months after the reporting date; and |
| • | lifetime ECLs: these are losses that are expected to result from all possible default events over the expected lives of the items to which the ECL model applies. |
Loss allowances for trade receivables and lease receivables are always measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs. ECLs on these financial assets are estimated using a provision matrix based on the Group’s historical credit loss experience, adjusted for factors that are specific to the debtors and an assessment of both the current and forecast general economic conditions at the reporting date.
For all other financial instruments, the Group recognizes a loss allowance equal to
12-month
ECLs unless there has been a significant increase in credit risk of the financial instrument since initial recognition, in which case the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs. F-22
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(l) |
Credit losses and impairment of assets (continued) |
| (i) | Credit losses from financial instruments and lease receivables (continued) |
Significant increases in credit risk
In assessing whether the credit risk of a financial instrument has increased significantly since initial recognition, the Group compares the risk of default occurring on the financial instrument assessed at the reporting date with that assessed at the date of initial recognition. In making this reassessment, the Group considers that a default event occurs when the borrower is unlikely to pay its credit obligations to the Group in full, without recourse by the Group to actions such as realizing security (if any is held). The Group considers both quantitative and qualitative information that is reasonable and supportable, including historical experience and forward-looking information that is available without undue cost or effort.
In particular, the following information is taken into account when assessing whether credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition:
| • | failure to make payments of principal or interest on their contractually due dates ; |
| • | an actual or expected significant deterioration in a financial instrument’s external or internal credit rating (if available); |
| • | an actual or expected significant deterioration in the operating results of the debtor; and |
| • | existing or forecast changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment that have a significant adverse effect on the debtor’s ability to meet its obligation to the Group. |
Depending on the nature of the financial instruments, the assessment of a significant increase in credit risk is performed on either an individual basis or a collective basis. When the assessment is performed on a collective basis, the financial instruments are grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics, such as past due status and credit risk ratings.
The Group assumes that the credit risk on a financial asset has increased significantly if it is more than 30 days past due, unless the Group has reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort, that demonstrates that the credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition even though the contractual payments are more than 30 days past due.
ECLs are remeasured at each reporting date to reflect changes in the financial instrument’s credit risk since initial recognition. Any change in the ECL amount is recognized as an impairment gain or loss in consolidated income statement. The Group recognizes an impairment gain or loss for all financial instruments with a corresponding adjustment to their carrying amount through a loss allowance account.
Basis of calculation of interest income
Interest income recognized in accordance with Note 2(z)(v) is calculated based on the gross carrying amount of the financial asset unless the financial asset is credit-impaired, in which case interest income is calculated based on the amortized cost (i.e. the gross carrying amount less loss allowance) of the financial asset.
At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether a financial asset is credit-impaired. A financial asset is credit-impaired when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset have occurred.
F-23
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(l) |
Credit losses and impairment of assets (continued) |
| (i) | Credit losses from financial instruments and lease receivables (continued) |
Evidence that a financial asset is credit-impaired includes the following observable events:
| • | significant financial difficulties of the debtor; |
| • | a breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal payments; |
| • | it becoming probable that the borrower will enter into bankruptcy or other financial reorganization; |
| • | significant changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment that have an adverse effect on the debtor; or |
| • | the disappearance of an active market for a security because of financial difficulties of the issuer. |
Write-off
policy The gross carrying amount of a financial asset and lease receivable is written off (either partially or in full) to the extent that there is no realistic prospect of recovery. This is generally the case when the Group determines that the debtor does not have assets or sources of income that could generate sufficient cash flows to repay the amounts subject to the
write-off.
Subsequent recoveries of an asset that was previously written off are recognized as a reversal of impairment in consolidated income statement in the period in which the recovery occurs.
| (ii) | Credit losses from financial guarantees issued |
Financial guarantees are contracts that require the issuer (i.e. the guarantor) to make specified payments to reimburse the beneficiary of the guarantee (the “holder”) for a loss the holder incurs because a specified debtor fails to make payment when due in accordance with the terms of a debt instrument.
After initial recognition at fair value, the Group, as an issuer of such a contract, subsequently measure it at the higher of: (i) the amount of the loss allowance and (ii) the amount initially recognized less, when appropriate, the cumulative amount of income recognized.
The Group monitors the risk that the specified debtor will default on the contract and recognizes a provision when ECLs on the financial guarantees are determined to be higher than the carrying amount in respect of the guarantees (i.e. the amount initially recognized, less accumulated amortization).
To determine ECLs, the Group considers changes in the risk of default of the specified debtor since the issuance of the guarantee. A
12-month
ECL is measured unless the risk that the specified debtor will default has increased significantly since the guarantee is issued, in which case a lifetime ECL is measured. The same definition of default and the same assessment of significant increase in credit risk as described in Note 2(l)(i) apply. F-24
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(l) |
Credit losses and impairment of assets (continued) |
| (ii) | Credit losses from financial guarantees issued (continued) |
As the Group is required to make payments only in the event of a default by the specified debtor in accordance with the terms of the instrument that is guaranteed, an ECL is estimated based on the expected payments to reimburse the holder for a credit loss that it incurs less any amount that the Group expects to receive from the holder of the guarantee, the specified debtor or any other party. The amount is then discounted using the current risk-free rate adjusted for risks specific to the cash flows.
| (iii) | Impairment of other non-current assets |
Internal and external sources of information are reviewed at the end of each reporting period to identify indications that the following assets may be impaired or, except in the case of goodwill, an impairment loss previously recognized no longer exists or may have decreased:
• |
Investment properties; |
• |
Other property, plant and equipment; |
• |
Right-of-use assets; |
• |
Construction in progress; |
• |
Goodwill; |
• |
Investments in associates and joint ventures. |
If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. The recoverable amount of goodwill is estimated annually whether or not there is any indication of impairment.
| • | Calculation of recoverable amount |
The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a
pre-tax
discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Where an asset does not generate cash inflows largely independent of those from other assets, the recoverable amount is determined for the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows independently (i.e. a cash-generating unit). | • | Recognition of impairment losses |
An impairment loss is recognized in profit or loss if the carrying amount of an asset, or the cash-generating unit to which it belongs, exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses recognized in respect of cash-generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit (or group of units) and then, to reduce the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit (or group of units) on a pro rata basis, except that the carrying value of an asset will not be reduced below its individual fair value less costs of disposal (if measurable), or value in use (if determinable).
| • | Reversals of impairment losses |
In respect of assets other than goodwill, an impairment loss is reversed if there has been a favorable change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed.
A reversal of an impairment loss is limited to the asset’s carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized in prior years. Reversals of impairment losses are credited to profit or loss in the year in which the reversals are recognized.
F-25
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(m) |
Inventories |
Inventories, which consist primarily of consumable spare parts and supplies, are stated at cost less any applicable provision for obsolescence, and are charged to consolidated income statement when used in operations. Cost represents the average unit cost.
Inventories held for sale or disposal are carried at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale.
When inventories are sold, the carrying amount of those inventories is recognized as an expense in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. The amount of any write-down of inventories to net realizable value and all losses of inventories are recognized as an expense in the period the write-down or loss occurs. The amount of any reversal of any write-down of inventories is recognized as a reduction in the amount of inventories recognized as an expense in the period in which the reversal occurs.
(n) |
Contract liabilities |
A contract liability is recognized when the customer pays
non-refundable
consideration before the Group recognizes the related revenue (see Note 2(z)). A contract liability would also be recognized if the Group has an unconditional right to receive non-refundable
consideration before the Group recognizes the related revenue. In such cases, a corresponding receivable would also be recognized (see Note 2(o)). (o) |
Trade and other receivables |
A receivable is recognized when the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration. A right to receive consideration is unconditional if only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due. If revenue has been recognized before the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration, the amount is presented as a contract asset.
Trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component are initially measured at their transaction price. Trade receivables that contain a significant financing component and other receivables are initially measured at fair value plus transaction costs. All receivables are subsequently are stated at amortized cost using the effective interest method and including an allowance for credit losses (see Note 2(l)(i)).
F-26
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(p) |
Interest-bearing borrowings |
Interest-bearing borrowings are recognized initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortized cost with any difference between the amount initially recognized and redemption value being recognized in consolidated income statement over the period of the borrowings, together with any interest and fees payable, using the effective interest method.
(q) |
Trade and other payables |
Trade and other payables are initially recognized at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, trade and other payables are stated at amortized cost unless the effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are stated at invoice amounts.
(r) |
Non-current assets held for sale |
A
non-current
asset (or disposal group) is classified as held for sale if it is highly probable that its carrying amount will be recovered through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use and the asset (or disposal group) is available for sale in its present condition. A disposal group is a group of assets to be disposed of together as a group in a single transaction, and liabilities directly associated with those assets that will be transferred in the transaction. Immediately before classification as held for sale, the measurement of the in accordance with the accounting policies before the classification. Then, on initial classification as held for sale and until disposal, the
non-current
assets (and all individual assets and liabilities in a disposal group) is brought up-to-date
non-current
assets (except for certain assets as explained below), or disposal groups, are recognized at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. The principal exceptions to this measurement policy so far as the financial statements of the Group are concerned are deferred tax assets, assets arising from employee benefits, financial assets (other than investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures) and investment properties. These assets, even if held for sale, would continue to be measured in accordance with the policies set out elsewhere in Note 2. Impairment losses on initial classification as held for sale, and on subsequent remeasurement while held for sale, are recognized in profit or loss. As long as a
non-current
asset is classified as held for sale, or is included in a disposal group that is classified as held for sale, the non-current
asset is not depreciated or amortized. F-27
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(s) |
Cash and cash equivalents |
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other financial institutions, and short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, having been generally within three months of maturity at acquisition. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Group’s cash management are also included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the consolidated cash flow statement. Cash and cash equivalents are assessed for ECL in accordance with the policy set out in Note 2(l)(i).
(t) |
Provisions and contingent liabilities |
Provisions are recognized for liabilities of uncertain timing or amount when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation arising as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made. Where the time value of money is material, provisions are stated at the present value of the expenditures expected to settle the obligation.
Where it is not probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required, or the amount cannot be estimated reliably, the obligation is disclosed as a contingent liability, unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is remote. Possible obligations, whose existence will only be confirmed by the occurrence or
non-occurrence
of one or more future events are also disclosed as contingent liabilities unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is remote. (u) |
Dividend distribution |
Dividend distribution to the Company’s shareholders is recognized as a liability in the Group’s consolidated financial statements in the period in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders.
(v) |
Share capital |
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.
(w) |
Deferred benefits and gains |
In connection with the acquisitions of certain aircraft and engines, the Group receives various credits. Such credits are deferred until the aircraft and engines are delivered, at which time they are applied as a reduction of the cost of acquiring the aircraft and engines, resulting in a reduction of future depreciation.
F-28
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(x) |
Convertible bonds |
| (i) | Convertible bonds that contain an equity component |
Convertible bonds that can be converted into ordinary shares at the option of the holder, where a fixed number of shares are issued for a fixed amount of cash or other financial assets, are accounted for as compound financial instruments, i.e. they contain both a liability component and an equity component.
At initial recognition, the liability component of the convertible bonds is measured at the fair value based on the future interest and principal payments, discounted at the prevailing market rate of interest for similar
non-convertible
instruments. The equity component is the difference between the initial fair value of the convertible bonds as a whole and the initial fair value of the liability component. Transaction costs that relate to the issue of a compound financial instrument are allocated to the liability and equity components in proportion to the allocation of proceeds. The liability component is subsequently carried at amortized cost. Interest expense recognized in profit or loss on the liability component is calculated using the effective interest method. The equity component is not remeasured and is recognized in the other reserve until either the bonds are converted or redeemed.
If the bonds are converted, the other reserve, together with the carrying amount of the liability component at the time of conversion, is transferred to share capital and share premium as consideration for the shares issued. If the bonds are redeemed, the other reserve is released directly to retained earnings.
| (ii) | Other convertible bonds |
Convertible bonds which do not contain an equity component are accounted for as follows:
At initial recognition, the derivative component of the convertible bonds is measured at fair value and presented as part of derivative financial instruments (see Note 2(g)). Any excess of proceeds over the amount initially recognized as the derivative component is recognized as the host liability component. Transaction costs that relate to the issue of the convertible bonds are allocated to the host liability and are recognized initially as part of the liability.
The derivative component is subsequently remeasured in accordance with Note 2(g). The host liability component is subsequently carried at amortized cost. Interest expense recognized in profit or loss on the host liability component is calculated using the effective interest method.
If the bonds are converted, the derivative financial instruments, together with the carrying amount of the liability component at the time of conversion, is transferred to share capital and share premium as consideration for the shares issued. If the bonds are redeemed, any difference between the amount paid and the carrying amounts of both components is recognized in profit or loss.
F-29
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(y) |
Income tax |
Income tax for the year comprises current tax and movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Current tax and movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized in consolidated income statement except to the extent that they relate to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case the relevant amounts of tax are recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting year, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities arise from deductible and taxable temporary differences respectively, being the differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets also arise from unused tax losses and unused tax credits.
Apart from certain limited exceptions, all deferred tax liabilities, and all deferred tax assets to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized, are recognized. Future taxable profits that may support the recognition of deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences include those that will arise from the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, provided those differences relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse either in the same period as the expected reversal of the deductible temporary difference or in periods into which a tax loss arising from the deferred tax asset can be carried back or forward. The same criteria are adopted when determining whether existing taxable temporary differences support the recognition of deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and credits, that is, those differences are taken into account if they relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse in a period, or periods, in which the tax loss or credit can be utilized.
The limited exception to the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities are those temporary differences arising from goodwill, the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit (provided they are not part of a business combination), and temporary differences relating to investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures to the extent that, in the case of taxable differences, the Group controls the timing of the reversal and it is probable that the differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future, or in the case of deductible differences, unless it is probable that they will reverse in the future and it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary difference can be utilized.
The amount of deferred tax recognized is measured based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period and are expected to apply when related deferred tax asset is realized or the deferred tax liability is settled. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
The carrying amount of a deferred tax asset is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and is reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow the related tax benefit to be utilized. Any such reduction is reversed to the extent that it becomes probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available.
F-30
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(y) |
Income tax (continued) |
Current tax balances and deferred tax balances, and movements therein, are presented separately from each other and are not offset. Current tax assets are offset against current tax liabilities, and deferred tax assets against deferred tax liabilities, if the Company or the Group has the legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and the following additional conditions are met:
| • | in the case of current tax assets and liabilities, the Company or the Group intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously; or |
| • | in the case of deferred tax assets and liabilities, if they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either: |
| • | the same taxable entity; or |
| • | different taxable entities, which, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred tax liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or recovered, intend to realize the current tax assets and settle the current tax liabilities on a net basis or realize and settle simultaneously. |
(z) |
Revenue and other income |
Income is classified by the Group as revenue when it arises from the sale of goods, the provision of services or the use by others of the Group’s assets under leases in the ordinary course of the Group’s business.
Revenue is recognized when control over a product or service is transferred to the customer, or the lessee has the right to use the asset, at the amount of promised consideration to which the Group is expected to be entitled, excluding those amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Revenue excludes value added tax or other sales taxes and is after deduction of any trade discounts.
Further details of the Group’s revenue and other income recognition policies are as follows:
| (i) | Passenger, cargo and mail revenue |
Revenue is recognized when passenger, cargo and mail transportation services are provided. Unearned passenger revenue at the reporting date is included within “sales in advance of carriage” in the consolidated statement of financial position.
Ticket breakage relates to a portion of contractual rights that the Group does not expect to be exercised.
When the Group expects that the consideration received in advance of carriage is not refundable, and the customer is likely to give up a portion of the contractual rights, the Group recognizes, in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer, the breakage amount to which the Group expects to be entitled as revenue. If the Group does not expect to be entitled to a breakage amount, the Group recognizes the expected breakage amount as revenue when the likelihood of the customer exercising its remaining rights becomes remote.
Revenue from airline-related business is recognized when the customers obtain control of the relevant services.
The incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that the Group incurs to obtain a contract with a customer that it would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained (for example, a sales commission). As a practical expedient, the Group recognizes sales commission (that are regarded as directly related incremental costs of obtaining transportation contracts) as an expense when incurred, as the amortization period is one year or less.
F-31
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(z) |
Revenue and other income (continued) |
| (ii) | Frequent flyer revenue |
The Group maintains two major frequent flyer award programs, namely, the China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club and the Xiamen Airlines’ Egret Card Frequent Flyer Program, which provide travel and other awards to members based on accumulated mileages.
According to the frequent flyer award programs, the Group allocates the transaction price received in relation to mileage earning flights to flight and mileage awarded on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, and recognized the portion allocated to mileage awarded as “contract liabilities”. The mileage awarded to customers by third parties through means other than flights are initially recognized as “contract liabilities”.
The Group estimates the standalone selling price of mileage awarded through mileage earning flights based on inputs and assumptions derived from historical data, including the estimates on the percentage of mileage awarded that are expected to be redeemed (“expected redemption rate”).
Contract liabilities in relation to mileage awarded are subsequently recognized as revenue when the mileage is redeemed and the related benefits are received or used. Revenue on redeemed flights is recognized in accordance with the accounting policy set out in Note 2(z)(i), and revenue on redeemed goods or services is recognized when the customers obtain control of the goods or services.
| (iii) | Rental income from operating leases |
Rental income receivable under operating leases is recognized in consolidated income statement in equal instalments over the periods covered by the lease term, except where an alternative basis is more representative of the pattern of benefits to be derived from the use of the leased asset. Lease incentives granted are recognized in profit or loss as an integral part of the aggregate net lease payments receivable. Contingent rentals are recognized as income in the accounting period in which they are earned.
| (iv) | Dividends |
| • | Dividend income from unlisted investments is recognized when the shareholder’s right to receive payment is established. |
| • | Dividend income from listed investments is recognized when the share price of the investment goes ex-dividend. |
| (v) | Interest income |
Interest income is recognized as it accrues under the effective interest method using the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to the gross carrying amount of the financial asset. For financial assets measured at amortized cost or FVOCI (recycling) that are not credit-impaired, the effective interest rate is applied to the gross carrying amount of the asset. For credit-impaired financial assets, the effective interest rate is applied to the amortized cost (i.e. gross carrying amount net of loss allowance) of the asset (see Note 2(l)(i)).
| (vi) | Government grants |
Government grants are recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position initially when there is reasonable assurance that they will be received and that the Group will comply with the conditions attaching to them. Grants that compensate the Group for expenses incurred are recognized as income in consolidated income statement on a systematic basis in the same periods in which the expenses are incurred. Grants that compensate the Group for the cost of an asset are deducted from the carrying amount of the asset and consequently are effectively recognized in profit or loss over the useful life of the asset by way of reduced depreciation expense.
F-32
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(z) |
Revenue and other income (continued) |
(aa) |
Maintenance and overhaul costs |
In respect of owned and leased aircraft, components within the aircraft subject to replacement during major overhauls are recognized as Note 2(i) and Note 2(k). Other routine maintenance, repairs and overhauls are charged to consolidated income statement as and when incurred.
In respect of certain leased aircraft, the Group has responsibility to fulfil certain return conditions under relevant lease agreements. In order to fulfil these return conditions, major overhauls are required to be conducted. Accordingly, except for the estimated costs of major overhauls recognized as assets at the lease commencement date, see Note 2(k), other estimated costs of major overhauls are accrued and charged to the consolidated income statement over the estimated overhaul period. Differences between the estimated costs and the actual costs of overhauls are charged to consolidated income statement in the period when the overhaul is performed.
right-of-use
(ab) |
Borrowing costs |
General and specific borrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset which necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalized as part of the cost of that asset. Other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
The capitalization of borrowing costs as part of the cost of a qualifying asset commences when expenditure for the asset is being incurred, borrowing costs are being incurred and activities that are necessary to prepare the asset for its intended use or sale are in progress. Capitalization of borrowing costs is suspended or ceases when substantially all the activities necessary to prepare the qualifying asset for its intended use or sale are interrupted or complete.
Investment income earned on the temporary investment of specific borrowings pending their expenditure on qualifying assets is deducted from the borrowing costs eligible for capitalization.
Borrowing costs include interest expense, finance charges in respect of lease liabilities and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to the extent that they are regarded as an adjustment to interest costs.
(ac) |
Employee benefits |
(i) |
Short term employee benefits and contributions to defined contribution retirement schemes |
Salaries, annual bonuses and contributions to defined contribution retirement schemes are accrued in the year in which the associated services are rendered by employees. Where payment or settlement is deferred and the effect would be material, these amounts are stated at their present values.
(ii) |
Termination benefits |
Termination benefits are recognized when, and only when, the Group demonstrably commits itself to terminate employment or to provide benefits as a result of voluntary redundancy by having a detailed formal plan which is without realistic possibility of withdrawal.
(iii) |
Retirement benefits |
According to IAS 19, , an entity shall account not only for its legal obligation under the formal terms of a defined benefit plan, but also for any constructive obligation that arises from the entity’s informal practices where the entity has no realistic alternative but to pay the employee benefits. The Group believes the payments of welfare subsidy to those retirees who retired before the establishment of Pension Scheme are discretionary and have not created a legal or constructive obligation. Such payments are made according to the Group’s business performance, and can be suspended at any time.
Employee Benefits
F-33
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(ad) |
Translation of foreign currencies |
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“the functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Renminbi, which is the Company’s functional and the Group’s presentation currency.
Foreign currencies transactions during the year are translated into Renminbi at the applicable rates of exchange quoted by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) prevailing at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Renminbi at the PBOC exchange rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Exchange gains and losses are recognized in profit or loss.
Non-monetary
assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated into Renminbi at the PBOC exchange rates prevailing at the transaction dates. The transaction date is the date on which the Group initially recognizes such non-monetary
assets or liabilities. Non-monetary
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies that are stated at fair value are translated into Renminbi at the PBOC exchange rates prevailing at the dates the fair value was determined. The results of foreign operations are translated into Renminbi at the PBOC exchange rates approximating the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Statement of financial position items are translated into Renminbi at the PBOC exchange rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period. The resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated separately in equity in the exchange reserve.
(ae) |
Related parties |
| (a) | A person, or a close member of that person’s family, is related to the Group if that person: |
| (i) | has control or joint control over the Group; |
| (ii) | has significant influence over the Group; or |
| (iii) | is a member of the key management personnel of the Group or the Group’s parent. |
F-34
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
2 |
Significant accounting policies (continued) |
(ae) |
Related parties (continued) |
| (b) | An entity is related to the Group if any of the following conditions applies: |
| (i) | The entity and the Group are members of the same group (which means that each parent, subsidiary and fellow subsidiary is related to the others). |
| (ii) | One entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or an associate or joint venture of a member of a group of which the other entity is a member). |
| (iii) | Both entities are joint ventures of the same third party. |
| (iv) | One entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of the third entity. |
| (v) | The entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of either the Group or an entity related to the Group. |
| (vi) | The entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (a). |
| (vii) | A person identified in (a)(i) has significant influence over the entity or is a member of the key management personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the entity). |
| (viii) | The entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key management personnel services to the Group or to the Group’s parent. |
Close members of the family of a person are those family members who may be expected to influence, or be influenced by, that person in their dealings with the entity.
(af) |
Segment reporting |
Operating segments, and the amounts of each segment item reported in the financial statements, are identified from the financial information provided regularly to the Group’s most senior executive management, who is the chief operating decision maker, for the purposes of allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, the Group’s various lines of business and geographical locations.
Individually material operating segments are not aggregated for financial reporting purposes unless the segments have similar economic characteristics and are similar in respect of the nature of products and services, the nature of production processes, the type or class of customers, the methods used to distribute the products or provide the services, and the nature of the regulatory environment. Operating segments which are not individually material may be aggregated if they share a majority of these criteria.
F-35
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
3 |
Accounting estimates and judgements |
The Group’s financial position and results of operations are sensitive to accounting methods, assumptions and estimates that underlie the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. The Group bases the assumptions and estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Group believes to be reasonable and which form the basis for making judgements about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates. Actual results may differ from those estimates as facts, circumstances and conditions change.
The selection of critical accounting policies, the judgements and other uncertainties affecting application of those policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in condition and assumptions are factors to be considered when reviewing the financial statements. In addition to the assumptions and estimates regarding fair value measurements of financial instruments disclosed in Note 4(g), the Group believes the following also involve key accounting estimates and judgements used in the preparation of the financial statements.
(a) |
Impairment of long-lived assets (other than goodwill) |
As discussed in Note 2(l)(iii), at the end of each reporting period, the Group tests for impairment for long-lived assets or cash-generating units (“CGUs”) (a portion of which related to aircraft and other flight equipment including rotables in property, plant and equipment, aircraft and engines in assets(“aircraft and related equipment”)) to determine whether the recoverable amounts have declined below the carrying amounts. If circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets or CGUs may not be recoverable, the assets or CGUs may be considered “impaired”, and an impairment loss may be recognized.
right-of-use
The recoverable amount of assets or CGUs are the higher of the fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. As the fair value of certain assets or CGUs may not be publicly available, the Group uses all readily available information in determining an amount that is a reasonable approximation of recoverable amount, including estimates based on reasonable and supportable assumptions for projections of traffic revenue and operating costs and discount rates. In particular, in determining the value in use of the Group’s aircraft and related equipment, significant judgements are required on the accounting estimates which are based on the assumptions relating to traffic revenue growth rates, operating costs growth rates and discount rates applied, among which, operating costs consist of jet fuel costs, landing and navigation fees, maintenance expenses, payroll and welfare.
(b) |
Frequent flyer revenue |
According to the frequent flyer award programs, the allocation of stand-alone selling price of the mileage awarded involves the estimation of the expected redemption rate. The expected redemption rate is estimated based on historical experience of mileage redemption, taking into consideration expected future mileage redemption patterns, which are associated with changes in the terms of mileage programs and customer behavior. Different estimates could significantly affect the estimated contract liabilities and the results of operations.
(c) |
Income tax |
Deferred tax assets are recognized related to operating loss carryforwards that will reduce future taxable income. The Group needs to make judgements and estimates in assessing the realizability of the operating loss carryforwards. Different estimates could significantly affect the deferred income tax assets and income tax expense in the year in which such determination is made.
F-36
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
3 |
Accounting estimates and judgements (continued) |
(d) |
Depreciation and amortization |
As disclosed in Note 2(i) and Note 2(k), components related to engine overhaul costs under property, plant and equipment and assets were depreciated on the units of production method based on flying hours. The expected flying hours of engines are based on the Group’s historical overhaul experience with similar engine models. Except for components related to engine overhaul costs, other property, plant and equipment and assets are depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives or lease term, which is shorter, after taking into account the estimated residual value. The useful lives are based on the Group’s historical experience with similar assets and take into account anticipated technological changes. The Group reviews the estimated useful lives of assets annually in order to determine the amount of depreciation and amortization expense to be recorded during any financial year. The depreciation and amortization expense for future periods is adjusted if there are significant changes from previous estimates.
right-of-use
right-of-use
(e) |
Provision for major overhauls |
As disclosed in Note 2(k) and Note 2(aa), provision for the cost of major overhauls to fulfil the lease return conditions involves estimation of the expected overhaul cycles and overhaul costs, which are based on the historical experience of actual costs incurred for overhauls of airframes and engines of the same or similar types and current economic and airline-related developments. Different estimates could significantly affect the estimated provision and the results of operations.
(f) |
Ticket breakage revenue |
The Group recognizes, in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer, the breakage amount to which the Group expects to be entitled as ticket breakage revenue. Such portion is estimated based on the Group’s historical experiences, and the estimated revenue is recognized only to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal in cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Different estimates could significantly affect the ticket breakage revenue recognized in the current financial year.
F-37
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments |
The Group is exposed to liquidity, interest rate, currency, credit risks and commodity jet fuel price risk in the normal course of business. The Group’s overall risk management programe focuses on the unpredictability of financial market and seeks to minimize the adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance. The Group’s exposure to these risks and the financial risk management policies and practices used by the Group to manage these risks are described below.
(a) |
Liquidity risk |
As at December 31, 2021, the Group’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by RMB 73,124 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group recorded a net cash inflow from operating activities of RMB7,688 million, a net cash outflow from investing activities of RMB15,820 million and a net cash inflow from financing activities of RMB4,186 million, which in total resulted in a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of RMB3,946 million
The Group is dependent on its ability to maintain adequate cash inflow from operations, its ability to maintain existing external financing, and its ability to obtain new external financing to meet its debt obligations as they fall due and to meet its committed future capital expenditures. The Group’s policy is to regularly monitor its liquidity requirements and its compliance with lending covenants, to ensure that it maintains sufficient reserves of cash and adequate committed lines of funding from major financial institutions to meet its liquidity requirements in the short and longer term. As at December 31, 2021, the Group has obtained credit facilities of RMB295,683
million in aggregate (December 31, 2020: RMB315,452 million) granted by several banks and other financial institute, among which approximately RMB204,051
was unutilized. The Directors of the Company believe that sufficient financing will be available to the Group when and where needed.
F-38
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(a) |
Liquidity risk (continued) |
The following tables show the remaining contractual maturities at the end of the reporting period of the Group’s
non-derivative
financial liabilities, which are based on contractual undiscounted cash flows (including interest payments computed using contractual rates or, if floating, based on rates current at the end of the reporting period) and the earliest date the Group can be required to pay: | 2021 Contractual undiscounted cash outflow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Within 1 year or on demand |
More than 1 year but less than 2 years |
More than 2 years but less than 5 years |
More than 5 years |
Total | Carrying amount at December 31 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | |||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lease liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade and other payables and accrued charges |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term payables |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| 2020 Contractual undiscounted cash outflow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Within 1 year or on demand |
More than 1 year but less than 2 years |
More than 2 years but less than 5 years |
More than 5 years |
Total | Carrying amount at December 31 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | |||||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lease liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade and other payables and accrued charges |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term payables |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
F-39
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(b) |
Interest rate risk |
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The Group’s borrowings and lease liabilities issued at floating and fixed interest rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk and fair value interest rate risk, respectively. The Group determines the ratio of fixed-rate and floating-rate instruments according to the market environment and maintains an appropriate combination of fixed-rate and floating-rate instruments by reviewing and monitoring it on a regular basis.
Interest rate swaps, denominated in United States Dollars (“USD”), have been entered into to mitigate its cash flow interest rate risk. Under the interest rate swaps, the Group agrees with other third parties to exchange, at specified intervals (primarily quarterly), the difference between fixed contract rates and floating-rate interest amounts calculated by reference to the agreed notional amounts (Note 27(ii)).
Cross currency swaps have been entered into to mitigate its interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. Under the cross currency swaps, the Group agrees with other third parties to exchange the floating interest and principal payments in USD for fixed interest and principal payments in RMB for certain USD bank loans. As at December 31, 2021 and 2020, all cross currency swaps had been settled.
As at December 31, 2021, it is estimated that a general increase/decrease of 100 basis points in interest rates, with all other variables held constant, would have increased/decreased the Group’s loss after tax and decreased/increased the Group’s retained earnings by approximately RMB328 315 559
In respect of the exposure to cash flow interest rate risk arising from floating-rate
non-derivative
instruments held by the Group at the end of the reporting period, the impact on the Group’s loss after tax (and retained earnings) and other components of consolidated equity is estimated as an annualized impact on interest expense or income of such a change in interest rates. This analysis is performed on the same basis as that for 2020 and 2019. The sensitivity analysis above indicates the instantaneous change in the Group’s loss/profit after tax (and retained earnings) and other components of consolidated equity that would arise assuming that the change in interest rates had occurred at the end of the reporting period and had been applied to
re-measure
those floating rate financial instruments held by the Group which expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk at the end of the reporting period. (c) |
Foreign currency risk |
Renminbi is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions involving Renminbi must take place either through the PBOC or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign exchange or at a swap centre.
The Group has significant exposure to foreign currency risk as majority of the Group’s lease liabilities (Note 37) are denominated in foreign currencies, principally USD, Euro and Japanese Yen. Depreciation or appreciation of Renminbi against foreign currencies affects the Group’s results significantly because the Group’s foreign currency liabilities generally exceed its foreign currency assets.
F-40
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(c) |
Foreign currency risk (continued) |
The following table indicates the instantaneous change in the Group’s loss/profit after tax and retained earnings that would arise if foreign exchange rates to which the Group has significant exposure at the end of the reporting period had changed at that date, assuming all other risk variables remained constant. The range of such sensitivity was considered to be reasonably possible at the end of the reporting date.
2021 |
||||||||
Appreciation/(depreciation) of Renminbi against foreign currency |
Decrease/(increased) on loss after tax and increase/(decrease) on retained earnings RMB million |
|||||||
| USD |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
| Euro |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
| Japanese Yen |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
2020 |
||||||||
Appreciation/(depreciation) of Renminbi against foreign currency |
Decrease/(increased) on loss after tax and increase/(decrease) on retained earnings RMB million |
|||||||
| USD |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
| Euro |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
| Japanese Yen |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
2019 |
||||||||
Appreciation/(depreciation) of Renminbi against foreign currency |
Increase/(decrease) on profit after tax and retained earnings RMB million |
|||||||
| USD |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
| Euro |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
| Japanese Yen |
% | |||||||
| ( |
%) | ( |
) | |||||
Results of the analysis as presented in the above table represent an aggregation of the instantaneous effects on each of the Group entities’ loss/profit after tax and retained earnings measured in the respective functional currencies, translated into Renminbi at the exchange rate ruling at the end of the reporting period for presentation purposes.
The sensitivity analysis assumes that the change in foreign exchange rates had been applied to
re-measure
those financial instruments, borrowings, and lease liabilities held by the Group which expose the Group to foreign currency risk at the end of the reporting period, including inter-company payables and receivables within the Group which are denominated in a currency other than the functional currencies of the lender or the borrower. The analysis excludes differences that would result from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations into the Group’s presentation currency. The analysis is performed on the same basis for 2020 and 2019. F-41
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(d) |
Credit risk |
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in a financial loss to the Group. The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, other receivables, other non-current financial assets (amortized cost) and derivative financial instruments.
Cash and cash equivalents
Substantially all of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents are deposited with major reputable PRC financial institutions, which management believes are of high credit quality. As the counterparties have favorable credit ratings, the Group does not expect there to be a risk of default.
Trade receivables
A significant portion of the Group’s air tickets are sold by agents participating in the Billing and Settlement Plan (“BSP”), a clearing scheme between airlines and sales agents organized by International Air Transportation Association. The use of the BSP reduces credit risk to the Group. As at December 31, 2021, the balance due from BSP agents amounted to RMB329 million (December 31, 2020: RMB293 million). The credit risk exposure to BSP and the remaining trade receivables balance are monitored by the Group on an ongoing basis and the relevant credit risk is within management’s expectations.
The Group measures loss allowances for trade receivables at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs, which is calculated using a provision matrix. As the Group’s historical credit loss experience indicates significantly different loss patterns for different customer segments, the loss allowance based on past due status is further distinguished between air ticket receivables, mileage credits sales receivables, general aviation service receivables, receivables on cooperation flights and other trade receivables.
The following table provides information about the Group’s exposure to credit risk and ECLs for air ticket receivables as at December 31, 2021:
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Expected loss rates |
Gross carrying amount |
Loss allowance |
||||||||||
| % | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||
| Within 3 months |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 3 months but less than 1 year |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 1 year but less than 2 years |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 2 years but less than 3 years |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 3 years |
% | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
F-42
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(d) |
Credit risk (continued) |
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Expected loss rates |
Gross carrying amount |
Loss allowance |
||||||||||
| % | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||
| Within 3 months |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 3 months but less than 1 year |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 1 year but less than 2 years |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 2 years but less than 3 years |
% | |||||||||||
| More than 3 years |
% | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
Expected loss rates are estimated with reference to actual loss experience over the past years. These rates are adjusted to reflect differences between economic conditions during the period over which the historical data has been collected, current conditions and the Group’s view of economic conditions over the expected lives of the receivables.
The credit risk of mileage credits sales receivables, general aviation service receivables and receivables on cooperation flights are considered to be low. The Group does not make credit loss allowance for these receivables.
The Group measures loss allowance for other trade receivables amounted to RMB17 million (December 31, 2020: RMB15 million) based on ECLs.
Movement in the loss allowance account in respect of trade receivables during the year is as follows:
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | |||||||
| Balance at January 1 |
||||||||
| Amounts written off during the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| Impairment losses written back |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| Impairment losses recognized during the year |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Balance at December 31 |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
Other receivables
The Group measures loss allowance for other receivables equal to 12 -month ECLs, unless when there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, the Group recognizes lifetime ECLs.
F-43
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(d) |
Credit risk (continued) |
Set out below are the movements of loss allowances measured at
12-month
and lifetime expected credit losses for the financial assets included in other receivables. | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12-month ECLs |
Lifetime ECLs (not credit- impaired) |
Lifetime ECLs (credit- impaired) |
Total | 12-month ECLs |
Lifetime ECLs (not credit- impaired) |
Lifetime ECLs (credit- impaired) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As at January 1 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accrual |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reversal |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Write-off |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| As at December 31 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments
The Group entered into derivative financial instruments arrangements with counterparties such as banks. Such arrangements are settled in net. As the counterparties have favorable credit ratings, the Group does not expect there to be a risk of default.
(e) |
Jet fuel price risk |
The Group’s results of operations may be significantly affected by fluctuations in fuel prices since the jet fuel expenses are a significant cost for the Group. The Group may hedge a portion of the future fuel requirements through various financial derivative instruments linked to certain fuel commodities to lock in fuel costs within a hedged price range. In 2021, the Group did not enter into any jet fuel forward contract.
A reasonable possible increase/decrease of 10% (2020 and 2019:10%) in jet fuel price, with volume of fuel consumed and all other variables held constant, would have increased/decreased the fuel costs by approximately RMB2,551 1,880 4,281
(f) |
Capital management |
The Group’s primary objectives in managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to generate sufficient profit to maintain growth and provide returns to its shareholders, by securing access to finance at a reasonable cost.
The Group manages the amount of capital in proportion to risk and manages its debt portfolio in conjunction with projected financing requirements. The Group monitors capital on the basis of the debt ratio, which is calculated as total liabilities divided by total assets. During 2021, the Group’s strategy, which was unchanged from 2020 and 2019, was to maintain a debt ratio at a range of levels to support the operations and development of the Group’s business in the long run. In order to maintain or adjust the debt ratio, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, issue new shares, return capital to shareholders, raise new debt financing or sell assets to reduce debt.
Except for the compliance of certain financial covenants for maintaining the Group’s banking facilities and borrowings, the Group is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements. The Group complied with the financial covenants attached to borrowings as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
F-44
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(g) |
Fair value |
| (i) | Financial instruments carried at fair value |
Fair value hierarchy
The following table presents the carrying value of financial instruments measured at the end of the reporting period on a recurring basis, categorized into the three-level fair value hierarchy as defined in IFRS 13, . The level into which a fair value measurement is classified is determined with reference to the observability and significance of the inputs used in the valuation technique as follows:
Fair value measurement
| • | Level 1 valuations: Fair value measured using only Level 1 inputs i.e. unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date |
| • | Level 2 valuations: Fair value measured using Level 2 inputs i.e. observable inputs which fail to meet Level 1, and not using significant unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs are inputs for which market data are not available |
| • | Level 3 valuations: Fair value measured using significant unobservable inputs |
Fair value measurements as at December 31, 2021 categorized into |
||||||||||||||||||
| Recurring fair value measurement |
Note |
Fair value at December 31, 2021 RMB million |
Level 1 RMB million |
Level 2 RMB million |
Level 3 RMB million |
|||||||||||||
| Financial assets/(liabilities): |
||||||||||||||||||
| Other equity instrument investments: |
||||||||||||||||||
| -Non-listed shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| -Non-tradable shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-current financial assets: |
||||||||||||||||||
| -Listed shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| -Non-listed shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| Derivative financial liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||
| -Interest rate swaps |
27 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
| -Derivative component of convertible bonds |
27 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
F-45
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(g) |
Fair value (continued) |
(i) |
Financial instruments carried at fair value (continued) |
Fair value measurements as at December 31, 2020 categorized into |
||||||||||||||||||
| Recurring fair value measurement |
Note |
Fair value at December 31, 2020 RMB million |
Level 1 RMB million |
Level 2 RMB million |
Level 3 RMB million |
|||||||||||||
| Financial assets/(liabilities): |
||||||||||||||||||
| Other equity instrument investments: |
||||||||||||||||||
| -Non-listed shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| -Non-tradable shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-current financial assets: |
||||||||||||||||||
| -Listed shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| -Non-listed shares |
26 | |||||||||||||||||
| Derivative financial liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||
| -Interest rate swaps |
27 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
| -Derivative component of convertible bonds |
27 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
| -Forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts |
27 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no transfers among level 1, level 2 and level 3. The Group’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels of fair value hierarchy as at the end of the reporting period in which they occur.
Valuation techniques and inputs used in Level 2 fair value measurements
Fair value of interest rate swaps in derivative financial liabilities is measured by discounting the expected receivable or payable amounts under the assumption that these swaps had been terminated at the end of the reporting period. The discount rates used are the US Treasury bond yield curve as at the end of the reporting period.
Fair value of forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts is determined using quoted forward exchange rates at the reporting date and present value calculations based on high credit quality yield curves in the respective currencies.
Fair value of derivative component of convertible bonds is measured by using the Binomial Model. The major inputs used in the Binomial Model are:
At December 31, 2021 |
At December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
| Conversion price |
RMB |
RMB |
||||||
| Stock price of A shares |
RMB |
RMB |
||||||
| Stock market volatility |
% | % | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate |
% | % | ||||||
Fair value of cross currency swaps is the estimated amount that the Group would receive or pay to terminate the swaps at the end of the reporting period, taking into account current exchange rates and interest rates and the current creditworthiness of the swap counterparties.
F-46
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
4 |
Financial risk management and fair values of financial instruments (continued) |
(g) |
Fair value (continued) |
(i) |
Financial instruments carried at fair value (continued) |
Information about Level 3 fair value measurements
Valuation technique |
Significant unobservable inputs |
Range |
||||||
| Other equity instruments investments |
||||||||
| -Non-listed shares (1)&(3) |
Market comparable companies | Discount for lack of marketability |
% | |||||
| -Non-tradable shares (2)&(3) |
Discounted cash flow | Expected profit growth rate during the projection period |
% | |||||
| Perpetual growth rate |
% | |||||||
| Perpetual dividend payout rate |
% | |||||||
| Expected dividend payout rate during the projection period |
% | |||||||
| Discount rate |
% | |||||||
| Other non-current financial assets |
||||||||
| -Non-listed shares (2) |
Discounted cash flow | Expected profit growth rates during the projection period |
% | |||||
| Perpetual growth rates |
% | |||||||
| Perpetual dividend payout rates |
% | |||||||
| Expected dividend payout rates during the projection period |
% | |||||||
| Discount rates |
% | |||||||
| (1) | The fair value of non-listed shares are determined by using comparable listed companies adjusted for lack of marketability discount. The fair value measurement is negatively correlated to the discount for lack of marketability. |
| (2) | The fair value of these non-tradable shares and non-listed shares is determined by discounting projected cash flow series associated with respective investments. The valuation takes into account the expected profit growth rates and expected dividend payout rate of the investees. The discount rates used have been adjusted to reflect specific risks relating to respective investees. The fair value measurement is positively correlated to the expected profit growth rates during the projection period, perpetual growth rate, perpetual dividend payout rate and expected dividend payout rates during the projection period of respective investees, and negatively correlated to the discount rates. |
| (3) | Any gain or loss arising from the remeasurement of the Group’s unlisted or non-tradable equity securities held for strategic purposes are recognized in the fair value reserve (non-recycling) in other comprehensive income. Upon disposal of the equity securities, the amount accumulated in other comprehensive income is transferred directly to retained earnings. |
(ii) |
Financial instruments not carried at fair value |
All other financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, amounts due from/to related companies, trade and other receivables, other non-current financial assets (amortized cost), trade and other payables, borrowings and lease liabilities are carried at amounts not materially different from their fair values as at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
F-47
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
5 |
Operating revenue |
The Group is principally engaged in the operation of civil aviation, including the provision of passenger, cargo, mail delivery, and other extended transportation services.
| (i) | Disaggregation of revenue |
Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers by major service lines is as follows:
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||||
| Note | RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||||
| Revenue from contracts with customers within the scope of IFRS 15: |
||||||||||||||||
| Disaggregated by service lines |
||||||||||||||||
| -Traffic revenue |
||||||||||||||||
| - Passenger |
||||||||||||||||
| - Cargo and mail |
||||||||||||||||
| -Commission income |
||||||||||||||||
| -General aviation income |
||||||||||||||||
| -Cargo handling income |
||||||||||||||||
| -Hotel and tour operation income |
||||||||||||||||
| -Ground services income |
||||||||||||||||
| -Air catering service income |
||||||||||||||||
| -Others |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Revenue from other sources: |
||||||||||||||||
| -Rental income |
19(e) | |||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers by the timing of revenue recognition and by geographic markets is disclosed in Notes 6(a) and 6(b) respectively.
| (ii) | Revenue expected to be recognized in the future arising from contracts with customers in existence at the reporting date |
As at December 31, 2021, the aggregated amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation, which is the unredeemed credits under the frequent flyer award programs, amounted to
RMB 3,061 million (December 31, 2020: RMB3,196 million) (Note 39). This amount represents revenue expected to be recognized in the future when the customers obtain control of the goods or services.
F-48
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting |
(a) |
Business segments |
The Group has two reportable operating segments “airline transportation operations” and “other segments”, according to internal organization structure, managerial needs and internal reporting system. “Airline transportation operations” comprises the Group’s passenger and cargo and mail operations. “Other segments” includes cargo handling, hotel and tour operation, ground services, air catering services and other miscellaneous services.
For the purposes of assessing segment performance and allocating resources between segments, the Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) monitors the results, assets and liabilities attributable to each reportable segment based on financial results prepared under the People’s Republic of China Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises (“PRC GAAP”). As such, the amount of each material reconciling item from the Group’s reportable segment loss/profit before taxation, assets and liabilities, which arises from different accounting policies, are set out in Note 6(c).
Inter-segment sales and transfers are transacted with reference to the selling prices used for sales made to third parties at the then prevailing market prices.
Information regarding the Group’s reportable segments as provided to the Group’s CODM for the purposes of resource allocation and assessment of segment performance is set out below.
F-49
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(a) |
Business segments (continued) |
The segment results of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2021 are as follows:
Airline transportation operations |
Other segments |
Elimination |
Unallocated* |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||||||||
| Disaggregated by timing of revenue recognition |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Point in time |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Over time |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Inter-segment sales |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment revenue |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment loss before taxation |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment loss after taxation |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other segment information |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Interest income |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit losses |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Share of associates’ results |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Share of joint ventures’ results |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of financial assets / liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-current assets additions during the year# |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
F-50
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(a) |
Business segments (continued) |
The segment results of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:
Airline transportation operations |
Other segments |
Elimination |
Unallocated* |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||||||||
| Disaggregated by timing of revenue recognition |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Point in time |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Over time |
( |
) | |
|||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Inter-segment sales |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment revenue |
|
( |
) | |||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment loss before taxation |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment loss after taxation |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other segment information |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest income |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit losses |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Share of associates’ results |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Share of joint ventures’ results |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of financial assets / liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-current assets additions during the year# |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
F-51
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(a) |
Business segments (continued) |
The segment results of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2019 are as follows:
Airline transportation operations |
Other segments |
Elimination |
Unallocated* |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||||||||
| Disaggregated by timing of revenue recognition |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Point in time |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Over time |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Revenue from external customers |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Inter-segment sales |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment revenue |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment profit before taxation |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Reportable segment profit after taxation |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Other segment information |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit losses |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Share of associates’ results |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Share of joint ventures’ results |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Remeasurement of the originally held equity interests in a joint venture |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of financial assets / liabilities |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Non-current assets additions during the year# |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
F-52
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(a) |
Business segments (continued) |
The segment assets and liabilities of the Group as at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:
Airline transportation operations |
Other segments |
Elimination |
Unallocated* |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
| RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | RMB million | ||||||||||||||||
| As at December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Reportable segment assets |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reportable segment liabilities |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| As at December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Reportable segment assets |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reportable segment liabilities |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| * | Unallocated assets primarily include interest in associates and joint ventures, derivative financial assets and equity securities. Unallocated liabilities primarily include derivative financial liabilities. Unallocated results primarily include the share of results of associates and joint ventures, dividend income from equity securities, and the fair value movement of financial instruments recognized through profit or loss. |
| # | The additions of non-current assets do not include interests in associates and joint ventures, other equity instrument investments, other non-current financial assets, derivative financial assets and deferred tax assets. |
(b) |
Geographical information |
The Group’s business segments operate in three main geographical areas, even though they are managed on a worldwide basis.
The Group’s revenue by geographical segment are analyzed based on the following criteria:
| (1) | Traffic revenue from services of both origin and destination within the PRC (excluding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan (“Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan”)), is classified as domestic revenue. Traffic revenue with origin and destination among PRC, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan is classified as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan revenue; while that with origin from or destination to other overseas markets is classified as international revenue. |
F-53
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(b) |
Geographical information (continued) |
| (2) | Revenue from commission income, general aviation, cargo handling, hotel and tour operation, ground services, air catering services and other miscellaneous services are classified on the basis of where the services are performed. |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Domestic |
||||||||||||
| International |
||||||||||||
| Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
The major revenue earning assets of the Group are its aircraft fleet which is registered in the PRC and is deployed across its worldwide route network. Majority of the Group’s other assets are located in the PRC. CODM considers that there is no suitable basis for allocating such assets and related liabilities to geographical locations. Accordingly, geographical segment assets and liabilities are not disclosed.
F-54
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(c) |
Reconciliation of reportable segment (loss)/profit before income tax, assets and liabilities to the consolidated figures as reported in the consolidated financial statements |
Note |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
|||||||||||||
| (Loss)/profit before income tax |
||||||||||||||||
| Reportable segment (loss)/profit before taxation |
6(a) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| Capitalization of exchange difference of specific loans |
(i) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Government grants |
(ii) | |||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Consolidated (loss)/profit before income tax |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Note |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Assets |
||||||||||||
| Reportable segment assets |
6(a) | |||||||||||
| Capitalization of exchange difference of specific loans |
(i) | |||||||||||
| Government grants |
(ii) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| Adjustments arising from business combinations under common control |
(iii) | |||||||||||
| Others |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Consolidated total assets |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
Liabilities
As at December 31, 2021 and 2020, the amount of reportable segment liabilities is the same as the amount of consolidated total liabilities.
F-55
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
6 |
Segment reporting (continued) |
(c) |
Reconciliation of reportable segment (loss)/profit before income tax, assets and liabilities to the consolidated figures as reported in the consolidated financial statements (continued) |
Notes:
| (i) | In accordance with the PRC GAAP, exchange difference arising on translation of specific loans and related interest denominated in a foreign currency is capitalized as part of the cost of qualifying assets. Under IFRSs, such exchange difference is recognized in income statement unless the exchange difference represents an adjustment to interest. |
| (ii) | In accordance with the PRC GAAP, assets related government grants (other than special funds) are deducted from the cost of the related assets. Special funds granted by the government and clearly defined in the approval documents as part of “capital reserve” are accounted for as increase in capital reserve. Under IFRSs, assets related government grants are deducted to the cost of the related assets. The difference is resulted from government grants received in previous years and are recognized in capital reserve under PRC GAAP. |
| (iii) | In accordance with the PRC GAAP, the Company accounts for the business combination under common control by applying the pooling-of-interest pooling-of-interest |
7 |
Flight operation expenses |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Jet fuel costs |
||||||||||||
| Flight personnel payroll and welfare |
||||||||||||
| Air catering expenses |
||||||||||||
| Civil Aviation Development Fund |
||||||||||||
| Aircraft operating lease charges |
||||||||||||
| Training expenses |
||||||||||||
| Aircraft insurance |
||||||||||||
| Others |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
F-56
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
8 |
Maintenance expenses |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Aviation repair and maintenance charges |
||||||||||||
| Staff payroll and welfare |
||||||||||||
| Maintenance materials |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
9 |
Aircraft and transportation service expenses |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Landing and navigation fees |
||||||||||||
| Ground service and other charges |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
10 |
Promotion and selling expenses |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Ticket office expenses |
||||||||||||
| Sales commissions |
||||||||||||
| Computer reservation services |
||||||||||||
| Advertising and promotion |
||||||||||||
| Others |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
11 |
General and administrative expenses |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| General corporate expenses |
||||||||||||
| Auditors’ remuneration |
||||||||||||
| - Audit services |
||||||||||||
| - Non-audit services |
||||||||||||
| Credit losses |
( |
) |
||||||||||
| Other taxes and levies |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
F-57
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
12 |
Depreciation and amortization |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment |
||||||||||||
| Depreciation of right-of-use |
||||||||||||
| Other amortization |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
13 |
Staff costs |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Salaries, wages and welfare |
||||||||||||
| Defined contribution retirement scheme |
||||||||||||
| Other retirement welfare subsidy |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Staff costs relating to flight operations and maintenance are also included in the respective total amounts disclosed separately in Note 7 to Note 8 above.
F-58
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
14 |
Other net income |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
Government grants (Note) |
||||||||||||
Gains/( losses ) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net |
||||||||||||
-Aircraft and spare engines and construction in progress |
( |
) |
||||||||||
-Other property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets |
||||||||||||
Others |
||||||||||||
Note: |
Government grants mainly include subsidies granted by various local governments to encourage the Group to operate certain routes to cities where these governments are located. |
There are no unfulfilled conditions and other contingencies related to subsidies that have been recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
15 |
Interest expense |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
Interest on borrowings |
||||||||||||
Interest relating to lease liabilities (Note 21) |
||||||||||||
Total interest expense on financial liabilities not at fair value through profit or loss |
||||||||||||
Less: interest expense capitalized (Note) |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
Interest rate swaps: cash flow hedge, reclassified from equity (Note 17) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||||
| Note: | The weighted average interest rate used for interest capitalization was |
F-59
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
16 |
Income tax |
(a) |
Income tax (credit)/expense in the consolidated income statement |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
PRC income tax |
||||||||||||
–Provision for the year |
||||||||||||
–Under - provision in prior year |
||||||||||||
Deferred tax (Note 29) |
||||||||||||
Origination and reversal of temporary differences |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
Income tax (credit)/expense |
( |
) |
( |
) |
||||||||
In respect of a majority of the Group’s airlines operation outside mainland China, the Group has either obtained exemptions from overseas taxation pursuant to the bilateral aviation agreements between the overseas governments and the PRC government, or has sustained tax losses in those overseas jurisdictions. Accordingly, no provision for overseas income tax has been made for overseas airlines operation in the current and prior years.
For the year of 2021, the Company and its branches are subject to income tax rates ranging from 15 % to 25 % (2020: 15 % to 25 %; 2019: 15 % to 25 %), and the subsidiaries of the Company are subject to income tax rates ranging from 15 % to 25 % (2020: 15 % to 25 %; 2019: 15 % to 30 %). Certain subsidiaries of the Company are located in Hong Kong and are subject to income tax at 16.5 % (2020: 16.5 %; 2019: 16.5 %).
F-60
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
16 |
Income tax (continued) |
(b) |
Reconciliation between actual income tax (credit)/expense and calculated tax based on accounting (loss)/profit at applicable income tax rates |
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| (Loss)/profit before income tax |
( |
) |
( |
) |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Notional tax on (loss)/profit before taxation, calculated at the rates applicable to (loss)/profits in the tax jurisdictions concerned (Note 16(a)) |
( |
) |
( |
) |
||||||||
| Adjustments for tax effect of: |
||||||||||||
| Non-deductible expenses |
||||||||||||
| Share of results of associates and joint ventures and other non-taxable income |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||||
| Unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences for which no deferred tax assets were recognized |
||||||||||||
| Utilization of unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences for which no deferred tax assets were recognized in prior years |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
| Under - provision in prior year |
||||||||||||
| Super deduction of research and development expenses |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Income tax (credit)/expense |
( |
) |
( |
) |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
F-61
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
17 |
Other comprehensive income |
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Cash flow hedges: |
||||||||||||
| Effective portion of changes in fair value of hedging instruments recognized during the year |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||||
| Reclassification adjustments for amounts transferred to profit or loss: |
||||||||||||
| - interest expense (Note 15) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||||
| Net deferred tax (debited)/credited to other comprehensive income |
( |
) |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
( |
) |
( |
) | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Equity investments measured at FVOCI: |
||||||||||||
| Changes in fair value recognized during the year |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
| Net deferred tax credited to other comprehensive income |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Share of other comprehensive income of associates |
||||||||||||
| Will not be reclassified to profit or loss |
( |
) |
( |
) |
||||||||
| May be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss |
( |
) |
||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
( |
) |
|||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Differences resulting from the translation of foreign currency financial statements |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Other comprehensive income for the year |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||||
F-62
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
18 |
(Loss)/earnings per share |
The calculation of basic (loss)/earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2021 is based on the loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of
RMB 12,106
RMB10,847
million, 2019: the profits attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of
RMB2,640 million) and the weighted average of 16,201,129,384 shares in issue during the year (2020: 14,056,887,174 shares, 2019: 12,267,172,286 shares).
2021 million |
2020 million |
2019 million |
||||||||||
Issued ordinary shares at January 1 |
||||||||||||
Effect of issuance of shares |
||||||||||||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares at December 31 |
||||||||||||
The amount of diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share as the effect of convertible bonds is anti-dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The amounts of diluted earnings per share are the same as basic earnings per share as there were no dilutive potential ordinary shares in existence for the year ended December 31, 2019.
F-63
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
19 |
Property, plant and equipment, net |
Investment properties RMB million |
Buildings RMB million |
Aircraft RMB million |
Other flight equipment including rotables RMB million |
Machinery, equipment and vehicles RMB million |
Total RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Cost: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At January 1 , 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additions |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from construction in progress (Note 20) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification on change of holding intention: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - transferred from other property, plant and equipment, net |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from right-of-use |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposals |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| - disposal of a subsidiary |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At January 1 , 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additions |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from construction in progress (Note 20) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification on change of holding intention: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - transferred to other property, plant and equipment, net |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| - transferred from other property, plant and equipment, net |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer to assets held for sale (Note 35) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from right-of-use |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Others |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposals (c) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
F-64
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
19 |
Property, plant and equipment, net (continued) |
Investment properties RMB million |
Buildings RMB million |
Aircraft RMB million |
Other flight equipment including rotables RMB million |
Machinery, equipment and vehicles RMB million |
Total RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At January 1 , 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation charge for the year |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification on change of holding intention: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - transferred from other property, plant and equipment, net |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from right-of-use (Note 21) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposals |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| - disposal of a subsidiary |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for impairment losses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses written off on disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At January 1 , 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation charge for the year |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification on change of holding intention: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - transferred to other property, plant and equipment, net |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| - transferred from other property, plant and equipment, net |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer to assets held for sale (Note 35) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from right-of-use (Note 21) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Provision for impairment losses (a) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses transfer to assets held for sale (Note 35) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses written off on disposals (c) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Net book value: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
F-65
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
19 |
Property, plant and equipment, net (continued) |
(a) |
As at December 31, 2021, the Group reported aircraft and related equipment in the amount of RMB |
(b) |
As at December 31, 2021, borrowings (December 31, 2020: Nil ). |
(c) |
During the year, the Group disposed certain aircraft directly and disposed certain aircraft through sale and leaseback agreement, against which cost, accumulated depreciation and impairment losses of the aircraft had been reduced with an aggregate amount of RMB |
During the year, the Group derecognized certain aircraft under finance lease agreements as a lessor, against which cost and accumulated depreciation of the aircraft had been reduced with an aggregate amount of RMB792 million and RMB0 respectively, and a long-term receivable was recognized accordingly. As at December 31, 2021, the balance of long-term receivable was RMB783 million (including the balance due within one year) (Note 26).
(d) |
As at December 31, 2021 and up to the date of approval of these financial statements, the Group is in the process of applying for the property title certificates in respect of the certain properties located in mainland China, in which the Group has interests and for which such certificates have not been granted. As at December 31, 2021, carrying value of such properties of the Group amounted to RMB |
(e) |
The Group leased out investment properties and facilities under operating leases. The leases typically run for an initial period of one to fifteen years, with an option to renew the leases after that date at which time all contract terms are renegotiated. In this connection, rental income total ing RMB |
The properties are reclassified between investment properties and other property, plant and equipment, upon the intention of commencement or cessation of lease.
The Group’s total future minimum lease income under
non-cancellable
operating leases are as follows: 2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Within 1 year |
||||||||
After 1 year but within 5 years |
||||||||
After 5 years |
||||||||
| (f) | Components related to engine overhaul costs under property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets were originally depreciated using the straight-line method by the Group. Upon analysis of historical data over past years and assessment of the actual consumption model and the expected method of relevant economic benefit realization in respect of the overhaul components of engines, the Group is of the view that the consumption of components related to engine overhaul costs is more directly associated with the actual flying hours. Therefore, the Group is of the view that changing the depreciation method of components related to engine overhaul costs to the units of production method can more truly and objectively reflect the actual consumption of assets, the financial position and operating performance of the Group. This change in accounting estimates has been applied prospectively with effect from April 1, 2020. |
Components related to engine overhaul costs |
Before the change | After the change | ||||||
Expected useful lives/Expected flying hours |
||||||||
Estimated net residual rate |
— | — | ||||||
Annual depreciation rate / Depreciation rate per thousand flying hours |
||||||||
As a result of this change in accounting estimates, the consolidated loss before tax of the Group was decreased by approximately RMB1,618 million during 2020. As it is impractical to accurately forecast the flying hours of the engines of the Group for the future periods, the Group is of the view that it is unable to estimate the respective impacts on the financial information of the Group for the future periods.
F-66
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
20 |
Construction in progress |
Advance payment for aircraft and flight equipment RMB million |
Others RMB million |
Total RMB million |
||||||||||
At January 1, 2020 |
||||||||||||
Additions |
||||||||||||
Transferred to property, plant and equipment (Note 19) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Transferred to right-of-use |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Transferred to others |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||
At January 1, 2021 |
||||||||||||
Additions |
||||||||||||
Transferred to property, plant and equipment (Note 19) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Transferred to right-of-use |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
Transferred to others |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||
F-67
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
21 |
Right-of-use |
Aircraft and engines RMB million |
Land use rights RMB million |
Buildings RMB million |
Others RMB million |
Total RMB million |
||||||||||||||||
Cost: |
||||||||||||||||||||
At January 1 , 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Additions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Transfer from construction in progress (Note 20) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Transferred to property, plant and equipment on exercise of purchase option (Note 19) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Disposals |
||||||||||||||||||||
- disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
- disposal of a subsidiary |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||
At January 1 , 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Additions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Transfer from construction in progress (Note 20) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Transferred to property, plant and equipment on exercise of purchase option (Note 19) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Transferred to assets held for sale (Note 35) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
F-68
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
21 |
Right-of-use |
| Aircraft and engines RMB million |
Land use rights RMB million |
Buildings RMB million |
Others RMB million |
Total RMB million |
||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated amortization and impairment losses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| At January 1 , 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization charge for the year |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred to property, plant and equipment on exercise of purchase option (Note 19) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Disposals |
||||||||||||||||||||
| - disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| - disposal of a subsidiary |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Provision for impairment losses |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| At January 1 , 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization charge for the year |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Transferred to property, plant and equipment on exercise of purchase option (Note 19) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Transferred to assets held for sale (Note 35) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Disposals |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| Provision for impairment losses (Note 19(a)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses transfer to assets held for sale (Note 35) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Net book value: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
The Group was formally granted the rights to use certain parcels of land by the relevant PRC authorities for periods of 30 to 70 years, which expire before 2075.
As at December 31, 2021 and up to the date of approval of these financial statements, the Group is in the process of applying for land use right certificates in respect of certain parcels of land used by the Group. As at December 31, 2021, carrying value of such land use rights of the Group amounted to RMB2,987 million (December 31, 2020: RMB3,019 million). The Directors of the Company are of the opinion that the use of and the conduct of operating activities at the land referred to above are not affected by the fact that the Group has not yet obtained the relevant land use right certificates.
As at December 31, 2021, no land use right of the Group was mortgaged for bank borrowings (December 31, 2020: Nil ).
F-69
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
21 |
Right-of-use |
In addition to the amortization charged, the analysis of expense items in relation to leases recognized in profit or loss is as follows:
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
| Interest on lease liabilities (Note 15) |
||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps: cash flow hedge, reclassified from equity (Note 15) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Expense relating to short-term leases |
||||||||||||
| Expense relating to leases of variable lease payments not included in the measurement of lease liabilities |
||||||||||||
The Group changed the accounting estimates in relation to the depreciation method of components related to engine overhaul costs, with effect from April 1, 2020 (see Note 19(f)).
During the year, additions to assets were primarily related to the capitalized lease payments payable under new tenancy agreements and newly acquired leasehold aircraft.
right-of-use
Details of total cash outflow for leases and the maturity analysis of lease liabilities are set out in Note 34(d) and Note 37 respectively.
As disclosed in Note 2(b), the Group has early adopted the Amendment to IFRS 16, rent concessions beyond June 30, 2021, and applied the practical expedient to all leases except for aircraft and engine leases with eligible rent concessions received by the Group during the year. There
is COVID-19-related
F-70
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
22 |
Goodwill |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Cost and carrying amount: |
||||||||
Impairment tests for cash-generating units containing goodwill
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Southern Airlines Group Import and Export Trading Company (“SAIETC”) |
||||||||
Xiamen Airlines Culture and Media Co., Ltd. |
||||||||
Total |
||||||||
The recoverable amount of the CGU is determined based on calculation. The calculation uses cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the five-year period are extrapolated using an estimated weighted average growth rate which does not exceed the long-term average growth rates for the business in which the CGU operates.
value-in-use
The cash flows of the above entities are discounted using 10.5 %13.5 %
pre-tax
discount rates ranging from to
(2020: 10.5 % to 13.5 %).
F-71
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
23 |
Subsidiaries |
All the subsidiaries of the Company are unlisted. The following list contains only the particulars of subsidiaries which principally affect the results, assets or liabilities of the Group.
Name of company |
Place of establishment/ operation |
Registered capital |
Proportion of ownership interest held by the Company |
Principal activity | ||||||||
China Southern Airlines Henan Airlines Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
Xiamen Airlines Company Limited (“Xiamen Airlines”) (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
Chongqing Airlines Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
Shantou Airlines Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
Zhuhai Airlines Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
Guizhou Airlines Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
Guangzhou Nanland Air Catering Company Limited (ii) |
RMB |
% |
Air catering | |||||||||
Beijing Southern Airlines Ground Services Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airport ground services | |||||||||
Nan Lung International Freight Limited |
HKD |
% |
Freight services | |||||||||
China Southern Airlines General (i) & (iii) |
RMB |
% |
General aviation | |||||||||
F-72
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
23 |
Subsidiaries (continued) |
Name of company |
Place of establishment/ operation |
Registered capital |
Proportion of ownership interest held by the Company |
Principal activity | ||||||||
SAIETC (i) |
RMB |
% |
Import and export agent services | |||||||||
Zhuhai Xiang Yi Aviation Technology Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Flight simulation services | |||||||||
China Southern Airlines Xiongan Airlines Company Limited (i) |
RMB |
% |
Airline transportation | |||||||||
China Southern Air Logistics Co., Ltd. (“Logistics Company”) (i) & (iv) |
RMB |
% |
Logistics operations | |||||||||
Shenyang Northern Aircraft Maintenance Co., Ltd. (“Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance”) (i) & (vii) |
RMB |
% |
Aircraft repair and maintenance services | |||||||||
Guangdong Southern Airline Pearl Aviation Services Company Limited (“Pearl Aviation Services”) (i) & (viii) |
RMB |
% |
Hotel management services | |||||||||
Southern Airlines Nansha Finance Leasing (Guangzhou) Co.,Ltd. (i) |
RMB |
% |
Leasing services | |||||||||
| (i) | These subsidiaries are PRC limited liability companies. |
| (ii) | This subsidiary is a sino-foreign equity joint venture company established in the PRC. |
| (iii) | CSAGA |
On December 18, 2020, certain third parties invested into CSAGA by means of capital injection and acquisition of the Company’s partial equity interests in CSAGA, the Company’s equity interests in CSAGA were decreased from 100 % to 57.88 %. Changes in the Company’s equity interests do not result in a loss of control of CSAGA.
The above transactions had the following effect on the Group’s other reserves in equity:
RMB million |
||||
Cash consideration received from third parties on partial disposal of equity interests |
||||
Capital injection from third parties |
||||
Less: Portion of net assets of CSAGA disposed |
||||
Other reserves in equity |
||||
(iv) |
Logistics Company |
On December 24, 2020, certain third parties made capital injections into Logistics Company causing a decrease of the Company’s equity interests in Logistics Company from
Changes in the Company’s equity interests do not result in a loss of control of Logistics Company.
The above transactions had the following effect on the Group’s other reserves in equity:
RMB million |
||||
Capital injection from third parties |
||||
Less: Portion of net assets of Logistics Company disposal |
||||
Other reserves in equity |
||||
(v) |
China Southern West Australian Flying College Pty Ltd. (“Flying College”) |
Flying College, a former subsidiary of the Company, went into liquidation process on December 21, 2020. Since then, the Group lost control of Flying College, and Flying College was no longer within the consolidation scope. The operating results and cash flow of Flying College before entering the liquidation process had been included in the consolidated income statement and consolidated cash flow statement of the Group this year. The Group recognized a net loss of RMB8 million on disposal of Flying College.
| (vi) | Guangzhou Baiyun International Logistic Company Limited (“Baiyun Logistic”) |
In January 2020, the Company acquired 29 % equity interests from a third party in Baiyun Logistic, a subsidiary that the Company previously held 61 % equity interests. On May 31, 2020, the Company transferred the then hold 90 %
equity interests of Baiyun Logistic to Logistics Company as capital injection. Since then, Baiyun Logistic became an indirect subsidiary of the Company through Logistics Company.
The above transactions had the following effect on the Group’s other reserves in equity:
RMB million |
||||
Cash consideration paid |
||||
Less: Portion of net assets of Baiyun Logistic acquired |
||||
Other reserves in equity |
||||
F-73
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
23 |
Subsidiaries (continued) |
| (vii) | Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance |
Pursuant to the equity transfer agreement entered into between the Company and a third party, the Company acquired 21 % equity interests Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance, a former joint venture of the Company, at a cash consideration of RMB14 million on April 23, 2019. On the same date, the Company obtained control over Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance, and Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The acquisition of Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance enables the Group to engage in comprehensive maintenance service.
In the period from the acquisition date to December 31, 2019, Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance contributed revenue of RMB39 million and profit of RMB1 million to the Group’s results. If the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019, management estimates that consolidated revenue would have been increased by RMB21 million, and consolidated profit for the year would have been increased by RMB4 million. In determining these amounts, management have assumed that the fair value adjustments that arose on the acquisition date would have been the same if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019. The information above is the amount before inter-company eliminations.
The above acquisitions had the following effect on the Group’s assets and liabilities on acquisition date:
Recognized values on acquisition RMB million |
||||
Non-current assets |
||||
Current assets |
||||
Non-current liabilities |
( |
) | ||
Current liabilities |
( |
) | ||
Total net identifiable assets |
||||
Analysis of the net inflow of cash and cash equivalents in respect of the acquisitions:
Cash consideration paid |
( |
) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents acquired |
||||
Net cash inflow |
||||
| (viii) | Pearl Aviation Services |
Pursuant to the equity transfer agreement entered into between the Company and the other third parties shareholders of Pearl Aviation Services, the Company acquired 100 % equity interests in Pearl Aviation Services at a consideration of RMB9 million on December 17, 2019. On the same date, the Company obtained the control of Pearl Aviation Services, and Pearl Aviation Services became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The acquisition of Pearl Aviation Services enables the Group to engage in hotel management services business.
As the acquisition was completed in December, limited amount of revenue and profit were contributed to the Group by Pearl Aviation Services. If the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019, management estimates that consolidated revenue would have been increased by RMB499 million, and consolidated profit for the year would have been increased by RMB17 million. In determining these amounts, management have assumed that the fair value adjustments that arose on the acquisition date would have been the same if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019. The information above is the amount before inter-company eliminations.
The above acquisitions had the following effect on the Group’s assets and liabilities on acquisition date:
Recognized values on acquisition RMB million |
||||
Non-current assets |
||||
Current assets |
||||
Current liabilities |
( |
) | ||
Total net identifiable assets |
||||
Analysis of the net inflow of cash and cash equivalents in respect of the acquisitions:
Cash consideration paid |
( |
) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents acquired |
||||
Net cash inflow |
||||
| (ix) | Material non-controlling interests |
As at December 31, 2021, the balance of total 16,657 million (December 31, 2020: RMB15,547 million), of which RMB 9,103 million (December 31, 2020
non-controlling
interests is RMB：
RMB8,809 million) is for Xiamen Airlines and RMB 4,814 million (December 31, 2020: RMB2,892 million) is for
Logistics Company
. The rest of non-controlling
interests are not individually material. F-74
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
23 |
Subsidiaries (continued) |
• |
Set out below are the summarized financial information for Xiamen Airlines. |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Non-controlling interests percentage |
% | % | ||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Non-current liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Net assets |
||||||||
Carrying amount of non-controlling interests |
||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||
Loss for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Total comprehensive income |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Loss allocated to non-controlling interests |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Dividend paid to non-controlling interests |
— | |||||||
Net cash generated from operating activities |
||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| • | Set out below are the summarized financial information for Logistics Company (Note23(iv)). |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million (Note) |
|||||||
Non-controlling interests percentage |
% | % | ||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Non-current liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Net assets |
||||||||
Carrying amount of non-controlling interests |
||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||
Profit for the year |
||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
||||||||
Profit allocated to non-controlling interests |
||||||||
Dividend paid to non-controlling interests |
||||||||
Net cash generated from operating activities |
||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Net cash (used)/generated from financing activities |
( |
) | ||||||
F-75
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
Note: |
On December 24, 2020, certain third parties made capital injections into Logistics Company , causing a decrease of the Company’s equity interests in Logistics Company from Logistics Company . |
24 |
Interest in associates |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Share of net assets |
||||||||
All the Group’s associates are unlisted without
quoted
market price. The particulars of the Group’s principal associates as at December 31, 2021 are as follows: Proportion of ownership interest held by |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of establishment / operation |
Group’s effective interest |
The Company |
Subsidiaries |
Proportion of voting rights held by the Group |
Principal activity |
|||||||||||||||||||
China Southern Airlines Group Finance Company Limited (“Finance Company”) |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
financial services |
| |||||||||||||||||
Sichuan Airlines Co.,Ltd. (“Sichuan Airlines”) |
% |
% |
% |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Airlines Culture and Media Co., Ltd.(“SACM”) |
% |
% |
% |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Shenyang Konggang Logistic Co.,Ltd. (“Shenyang Konggang”) |
% |
% |
% |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beijing Xingming Lake Jinyan Hotel Co., Ltd. |
% |
% |
% |
accommodation services |
||||||||||||||||||||
Shangzhou Aviation Logistics Co., Ltd. |
% |
% |
% |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Beijing Airport Inflight Kitchen Co.,Ltd. |
% |
% |
% |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Xinjiang Civil Aviation Property Management Limited |
% |
% |
% |
|||||||||||||||||||||
There is no associate that is individually material to the Group.
The Group has interest in a number of individually immaterial associates that are accounted for using the equity method. The aggregate financial information of these associates is summarized as following:
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
Aggregate carrying amount of individually immaterial associates |
||||||||||||
Aggregate amounts of the Group’s share of: |
||||||||||||
Profit/(loss) from continuing operations |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
( |
) | ||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
F-76
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
25 |
Interest in joint ventures |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Share of net assets |
||||||||
All the Group’s joint ventures are unlisted without quoted market price. The particulars of the Group’s principal joint ventures as at December 31, 2021 are as follows:
| Proportion of ownership interest held by |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of establishment/ operation |
Group’s effective interest |
The Company |
Subsidiaries | Proportion of voting rights held by the Group |
Principal activity |
|||||||||||||||||||
Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co.,Ltd. (“GAMECO”) |
% | % | % | |
maintenance services |
| ||||||||||||||||||
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai Co., Ltd. (“MTU”) |
% | % | % | |
maintenance services |
| ||||||||||||||||||
There is no joint venture that is individually material to the Group.
The Group has interest in a number of individually immaterial joint ventures that are accounted for using the equity method. The aggregate financial information of these joint ventures is summarized as follows:
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
||||||||||
Aggregate carrying amount of individually immaterial joint ventures |
||||||||||||
Aggregate amounts of the Group’s share of: |
||||||||||||
Profit from continuing operations and total comprehensive income |
||||||||||||
F-77
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
26 |
Financial assets |
Notes |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
||||||||
Other equity instrument investments (FVOCI) |
(i) |
|||||||||
- Non-listed shares |
||||||||||
- Non-tradable shares |
||||||||||
Other non-current financial assets (FVPL) (Note 28) |
(i) | |||||||||
- Listed shares |
||||||||||
- Non-listed shares |
||||||||||
Other non-current financial assets (amortized cost) |
(ii) | |||||||||
- Long-term receivables |
— | |||||||||
Notes:
| (i) | Dividend income generated from the investments amounted to RMB |
| (ii) | During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group derecognized certain aircraft under finance lease agreements as a lessor and recognized long-term receivables. As at December 31, 2021, long-term receivables (including the portion due within one year) was RMB |
F-78
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
27 |
Derivative financial liabilities |
Notes |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||
Forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts |
(i) | |||||||||
Derivative component of convertible bonds |
(ii i ) |
|||||||||
Non-current liabilities: |
||||||||||
Interest rate swaps |
(ii) | |||||||||
-Measured at FVOCI |
||||||||||
-Measured at FVPL |
||||||||||
Notes:
| (i) | The Group entered into forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts to mitigate its forward currency risk and all the forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts have been settled in 2021. As at December 31, 2020, the fair value of the forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts amounted to RMB |
| (ii) | In 2015, the Group entered into interest rate swaps to mitigate its cash flow interest rate risk. The interest rate swaps allow the Group to pay at fixed rate from |
| (i ii ) |
In October 2020, the Group issued a total of , 2021 to October 14, 2026 at an initial conversion price of RMB |
Any excess of proceeds over the fair value amount initially recognized as the derivative component is recognized as the host liability component. Transaction costs related to the issuance of the convertible bonds are allocated to the host liability and are recognized initially as part of the liability. The derivative component is subsequently remeasured at fair value while the host liability component is subsequently carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method (Note 36(a)).
For the year ended December 31, 2021, 101,034,070 convertible bonds were converted to A shares at the conversion price of RMB 6.24 per share, RMB 1,619 million was credited to share capital. As at December 31, 2021, the carrying amount of liability component of the remaining 58,965,930 A share convertible bonds was RMB 4,992 million (December 31, 2020: 160,000,000 A share convertible bonds with a carrying amount of RMB 12,833 million) (Note 36(a)), and the fair value of the derivative component of remaining 58,965,930 A share convertible bonds was RMB1,222 million (December 31, 2020: 160,000,000 A share convertible bonds with fair value of RMB 3,092 million). For the year ended December 31, 2021, the loss on the changes in fair value of the derivative component amounted to RMB 269 million was recognized (December 31, 2020: gain on the changes in fair value amounted to RMB 201 million) (Note 28).
F-79
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
28 |
Changes in fair value of financial liabilities |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Other non-current financial assets (FVPL) (Note 26) |
( |
) | ||||||
Interest rate swaps measured at FVPL |
( |
) | ||||||
Forward foreign exchange and foreign exchange options contracts |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Derivative component of convertible bonds (Note 27(iii)) |
( |
) | ||||||
Cross currency swaps |
— | ( |
) | |||||
| ( |
) | |||||||
F-80
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
29 |
Deferred tax assets / (liabilities) |
(a) |
Movements of net deferred tax assets are as follows: |
At December 31, 2020 RMB million |
(Charged)/ credited to consolidated income statement RMB million |
(Charged)/ credited to other comprehensive income RMB million |
At December 31, 2021 RMB million |
|||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Net effect on right-of-use |
— | |||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses |
— | |||||||||||||||
Provision for major overhauls |
— | |||||||||||||||
Contract liabilities/other non-current liabilities |
( |
) | — | |||||||||||||
Provision for impairment losses |
— | |||||||||||||||
Provision for tax losses |
— | |||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative financial liabilities |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of other equity instrument investments |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation allowances under tax in excess of the related depreciation under accounting |
— | — |
|
|||||||||||||
Others |
— | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Depreciation allowances under tax in excess of the related depreciation under accounting |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Change in fair value of other equity instrument investments |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Change in fair value of other non-current financial assets |
( |
) | ( |
) | — |
( |
) | |||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative financial liabilities |
( |
) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Fair value re-measurement of identifiable assets in business combination |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Others |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||
Net deferred tax assets |
||||||||||||||||
F-81
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
29 |
Deferred tax assets / (liabilities) (continued) |
(a) |
Movements of net deferred tax assets are as follows: (continued) |
At December 31, 2019 RMB million |
(Charged)/ credited to consolidated income statement RMB million |
Credited to other comprehensive income RMB million |
At December 31, 2020 RMB million |
|||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Net effect on right-of-use |
( |
) | — | |||||||||||||
Accrued expenses |
— | |||||||||||||||
Provision for major overhauls |
— | |||||||||||||||
Contract liabilities/other non-current liabilities |
( |
) | — | |||||||||||||
Provision for impairment losses |
— | |||||||||||||||
Provision for tax losses |
— | |||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative financial liabilities |
— | — | ||||||||||||||
Others |
— | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Depreciation allowances under tax in excess of the related depreciation under accounting |
( |
) | ( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative financial assets |
( |
) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of other equity instrument investments |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Change in fair value of other non-current financial assets |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative financial liabilities |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Fair value re-measurement of identifiable assets in business combination |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Others |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||
| ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Net deferred tax assets |
||||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets arise from deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the related tax benefit can be utilized.
F-82
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
29 |
Deferred tax assets/(liabilities) (continued) |
Notice of the Ministry of Finance on the Taxation Policy for supporting the prevention of pandemic of
Covid-19
(No. 8, 2020)(b) |
Reconciliation to the consolidated statement of financial position: |
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| Net deferred tax asset recognized in the statement of financial position |
||||||||
| Net deferred tax liability recognized in the statement of financial position |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
(c) |
Deferred tax assets not recognized |
The Group’s unused tax losses of RMB3,020 million (2020: RMB1,058 million) have not been recognized as deferred tax assets, as it was determined by management that it is not probable that future taxable profits against which the losses can be utilized will be available before they expire. The expiry dates of unrecognized unused tax losses are analyzed as follows:
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| Expiring in ： |
||||||||
| 2021 |
||||||||
| 2022 |
||||||||
| 2023 |
||||||||
| 2024 |
||||||||
| 2026 |
||||||||
| 2028 |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
As at December 31, 2021, the Group’s other deductible temporary differences amounting to RMB1,094 million (December 31, 2020: RMB819 million) have not been recognized as deferred tax assets as it was determined by management that it is not probable that future taxable profits will be available for these deductible temporary differences to reverse in the foreseeable future.
F-83
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
30 |
Other assets |
| Software RMB million |
Leasehold improvements RMB million |
Others RMB million (Note) |
Total RMB million |
|||||||||||||
| At January 1, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||
| Additions |
||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from construction in progress |
||||||||||||||||
| Amortisation for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| At December 31, 202 0 |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| At January 1, 202 1 |
||||||||||||||||
| Additions |
||||||||||||||||
| Transferred from construction in progress |
||||||||||||||||
| Disposal |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
| Amortisation for the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Provision for impairment losses |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Note: | As at December 31, 2021, the amounts include prepayments of RMB Notes 42(b)&50(c)). |
31 |
Inventories |
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| Consumable spare parts and maintenance materials |
||||||||
| Other supplies |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Less: provision |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
Provision for inventories is shown as below:
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| At January 1 |
||||||||
| Provision for inventories |
||||||||
| Written - off upon disposal |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| At December 31 |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
F-84
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
32 |
Trade receivables |
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| Trade receivables |
||||||||
| Less: loss allowance |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
(a) |
Ageing analysis |
Credit terms granted by the Group to sales agents and other customers generally range from one to three months. Ageing analysis of trade receivables based on transaction date is set out below:
| 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| Within 1 month |
||||||||
| More than 1 month but less than 3 months |
||||||||
| More than 3 months but less than 12 months |
||||||||
| More than 1 year |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Less: loss allowance |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
All of the trade receivables are expected to be recovered within one year.
F-85
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
32 |
Trade receivables (continued) |
(b) |
Trade receivables by currencies |
The carrying amounts of the Group’s trade receivables are denominated in the following currencies:
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
| RMB |
||||||||
| USD |
||||||||
| EURO |
||||||||
| HKD |
||||||||
| AUD |
||||||||
| BDT |
||||||||
| Others |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
33 |
Other receivables |
Notes |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
||||||||
| VAT recoverable |
||||||||||
| Government grants receivables |
(i) | |||||||||
| Rebate receivables on aircraft acquisitions |
||||||||||
| Other deposits |
||||||||||
| Others |
(ii) | |||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| Less: loss allowance |
(iii) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||
Notes:
| (i) | Government grants receivables are recognized as there is reasonable assurance that they will be received and the Group has complied with the conditions attaching to them. |
| (ii) | The amounts include term deposits of RMB |
| (iii) | The Group lost control of Flying College in December 2020 (Note23(v)). As at December 31, 2021 and 2020, prepayment of training expenses made to Flying College amounting to RMB |
F-86
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
34 |
Cash and cash equivalents |
(a) |
Cash and cash equivalents comprise: |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Deposits in banks and other financial institutions |
||||||||
Cash at bank and other financial institutions and on hand |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated statement of financial position |
||||||||
The carrying amounts of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents are denominated in the following currencies:
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
RMB |
||||||||
USD |
||||||||
EURO |
||||||||
AUD |
||||||||
JPY |
||||||||
HKD |
||||||||
Others |
||||||||
F-87
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
34 |
Cash and cash equivalents (continued) |
(b) |
Reconciliation of (loss)/profit before income tax to cash generated from operating activities |
Note |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
2019 RMB million |
|||||||||||
(Loss) / profit before income tax |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
Adjustments for: |
||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
12 | |||||||||||||
Impairment losses on property, plant, equipment |
19 | |||||||||||||
Impairment losses on right-of-use |
21 | — | ||||||||||||
Impairment losses on other assets |
30 | — | — | |||||||||||
Credit losses |
11 | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Share of associates’ results |
24 | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Share of joint ventures’ results |
25 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress |
14 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
Changes in fair value of financial assets/ liabilities |
28 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
Remeasurement of the originally held equity interests in a joint venture |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
Interest expense |
15 | |||||||||||||
Dividends income from other non-current financial assets |
26 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
Exchange (gain)/losses, net |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
Loss on disposal of a subsidiary |
23(v) |
— | — | |||||||||||
Decrease / (increase) in inventories |
31 | ( |
) | |||||||||||
Decrease in contract liabilities and other non-current liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
(Decrease) / increase in sales in advance of carriage |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||
(Decrease) / increase in deferred benefits and gains |
46 | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||
(Increase) / decrease in operating receivables |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
Increase / (decrease) in operating payables |
( |
) | ||||||||||||
Cash generated from operating activities |
||||||||||||||
F-88
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
34 |
Cash and cash equivalents (continued) |
(c) |
Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities |
Bank loans and other borrowings RMB million |
Lease liabilities RMB million |
Interest rate swaps RMB million |
Derivative component of convertible bonds RMB million |
Total RMB million |
||||||||||||||||
(Note 36) |
(Note 37) |
(Note 27) |
(Note 27) |
|||||||||||||||||
At January 1 , 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Changes from financing cash flows: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from bank borrowings |
— | |||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from corporate bonds |
— | |||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from ultra-short-term financing bills |
— | |||||||||||||||||||
Repayment of bank borrowings |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||
Repayment of ultra-short-term financing bills |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||
Repayment of corporate bonds |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||
Capital element of lease rentals paid(Note 34(d)) |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||
Total changes from financing cash flows |
( |
) | — | |||||||||||||||||
Exchange adjustments |
( |
) | — | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||
Changes in fair value |
( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other changes: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Increase in lease liabilities from entering into new leases during the year (Note 52) |
— | |||||||||||||||||||
Conversion of convertible bonds to ordinary shares (Note 52) |
( |
) | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||
Amortization amount of convertible bonds |
||||||||||||||||||||
Accrued interest expense |
— | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
Total other changes |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
F-89
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
34 |
Cash and cash equivalents (continued) |
(c) |
Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities (continued) |
Bank loans and other borrowings |
Lease liabilities |
Interest rate swaps |
Cross currency swaps |
Derivative component of convertible bonds |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||
(Note 36) |
(Note 37) |
(Note 27) |
(Note 27) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
At January 1, 2020 |
( |
) | ( |
) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Changes from financing cash flows: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from bank borrowings |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from ultra-short-term financing bills |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from corporate bonds |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Repayment of bank borrowings |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Repayment of ultra-short-term financing bills |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Repayment of corporate bonds |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Capital element of lease rentals paid(Note 34(d)) |
— | ( |
) | — | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
Total changes from financing cash flows |
( |
) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Exchange adjustments |
( |
) | — | — | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
Changes in fair value |
— | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other changes: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase in lease liabilities from entering into new leases during the year (Note 5 2 ) |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Amount initially recognized as the derivative component of convertible bonds |
( |
) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization amount of convertible bonds |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total other changes |
( |
) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-90
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
34 |
Cash and cash equivalents (continued) |
(d) |
Total cash outflow for leases |
Amounts included in the cash flow statement for leases comprise the following:
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Within operating cash flows |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Within investing cash flows |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Within financing cash flows |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
These amounts relate to the following:
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Lease rentals paid |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Acquisition of land use rights |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
35 |
Assets held for sale |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
| Aircraft and other flight equipment |
|
|
||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
As at December 31, 2021, assets held for sale represents certain aircraft and other flight equipment to be delivered. The carrying amount of the assets held for sale is RMB 1,292 million, including RMB 1,008 million of aircraft and other flight equipment (Note 19), and RMB 284
million of lease aircraft (Note 21). As at December 31, 2021, the transaction price with third party is higher than the carrying amount of the assets, and the sale is expected to be completed in 2022.
F-91
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
36 |
Borrowings |
| (a) | Borrowings are analyzed as follows: |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
| Non-current |
||||||||
| Long-term borrowings |
||||||||
| Corporate bonds (Note (ii)) |
||||||||
| Convertible bonds (Note 27(iii)) |
||||||||
| Medium-term notes (Note (iii)) |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Current |
||||||||
| Current portion of long-term borrowings |
||||||||
| Short-term borrowings |
||||||||
| Ultra-short-term financing bills |
||||||||
| Current portion of corporate bonds and medium-term notes (Notes (ii)&(iii)) |
||||||||
| Current portion of convertible bonds (Note 27(iii)) |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Total borrowings |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| The borrowings are repayable: |
||||||||
| Within one year |
||||||||
| In the second year |
||||||||
| In the third to fifth year |
||||||||
| After the fifth year |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Total borrowings |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
F-92
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
36 |
Borrowings (continued) |
| (a) | Borrowings are analyzed as follows (continued): |
Notes:
| (i) | As at December 31, 2021, the Group did not have any secured bank borrowings (December 31, 2020: |
| (ii) | The Company issued corporate bonds with aggregate nominal value of RMB , 2016 at a bond rate of |
The Company issued corporate bonds with aggregate nominal value of RMB2,000 3.92 % per annum with a term of 3 years. The bonds were redeemed by the Company in 2021 upon maturity.
,
2018 at a bond rate of The Company issued corporate bonds with aggregate nominal value of RMB3,000 million on February 213.45 % per annum with a term of 3
,
2019 at a bond rate of years. As at December 31, 2021, the corporate bonds will mature within 1 year.
The Company issued corporate bonds with aggregate nominal value of
RMB2,000
million on May 16, 2019 at a bond rate
of 3.72
% per annum with a term
of 3
years. As at December 31, 2021, the corporate bonds will mature within 1 year.
Xiamen Airlines, a subsidiary of the Group, issued corporate bonds with aggregate nominal value of RMB1,500 million on November 20, 2019 at a bond rate of 3.58 % per annum with a term of 3 years. As at December 31, 2021, the corporate bonds will mature within 1 year.
Xiamen Airlines issued corporate bonds with aggregate nominal value of RMB1,000
million on March 16, 2020 at a bond rate
of 2.95 % per annum with a term of 3 years. As at December 31, 2021, the corporate bonds will mature over 1 year.
| (iii) | The Company issued medium-term notes with aggregate nominal value of RMB1,000 million in 2019 at an annual interest rate of 3.20% with a term of 3 years. As at December 31, 2021, the medium-term notes will mature within 1 year. |
The Company issued medium-term notes with aggregate nominal value of RMB8,000 million in 2020 at annual interest rates ranging from 2.44 % to 3.28 % with terms of 3 to 5 years. As at December 31, 2021, the medium-term notes will mature over 1 year.
The Company issued medium-term notes with aggregate nominal value of RMB9,000 million in 2021 at annual interest rates ranging from 2.90 % to 3.20 % with terms of 3 years. As at December 31, 2021, the medium-term notes will mature over 1 year.
| (b) | As at December 31, 2021, the Group’s weighted average interest rates on short-term borrowings were |
F-93
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
36 |
Borrowings (continued) |
| (c) | Details of borrowings with original maturity over one year are as follows: |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Renminbi denominated borrowings |
||||||||
Fixed interest rate at |
||||||||
Corporate bond - Fixed interest rate at |
||||||||
Convertible bond - Fixed interest rate (Note27(iii)) |
||||||||
Medium-term notes - Fixed interest rate at |
||||||||
Floating interest rates at |
||||||||
Less: borrowings due within one year classified as current liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| (d) | The carrying amounts of the borrowings are denominated in the following currencies: |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Renminbi |
||||||||
| (e) | The balance of long-term borrowings as at December 31, 2021 included entrusted loans from CSAH via Finance Company to the Group amounted t o RMB |
| (f) | Certain of the Group’s banking facilities are subject to the fulfilment of covenants relating to certain of the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position ratios, as are commonly found in lending arrangements with financial institutions. If the Group were to breach the covenants, the drawn down facilities would become payable on demand. The Group regularly monitors its compliance with these covenants. Further details of the Group’s management of liquidity risk are set out in Note 4(a). As at December 31, 2021 and 2020, none of the covenants relating to drawn down facilities had been breached. |
F-94
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
37 |
Lease liabilities |
At December 31, 2021, the lease liabilities were payable as follows:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Within 1 year |
||||||||
After 1 year but within 2 years |
||||||||
After 2 years but within 5 years |
||||||||
After 5 years |
||||||||
Obligations by denominated currencies |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2021 |
Effective interest rate |
USD RMB million |
Japanese Yen RMB million |
Renminbi RMB million |
Euro RMB million |
Other currencies RMB million |
Total RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed interest rates |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Floating interest rates |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Obligations by denominated currencies |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the year ended December 31, 2020 |
Effective interest rate |
USD RMB million |
Japanese Yen RMB million |
Renminbi RMB million |
Euro RMB million |
Other currencies RMB million |
Total RMB million |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed interest rates |
% ~ % |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Floating interest rates |
% ~ % |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Group has significant lease liabilities which are denominated in USD as at December 31, 2021. The net exchange gain of RMB1,575 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: net exchange gain of RMB3,485 million; 2019: net exchange loss of RMB1,477 million) was mainly attributable to the translation of balances of lease liabilities which are denominated in USD.
F-95
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
38 |
Trade payables |
Ageing analysis of trade payables based on transaction date is set out below:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Within 1 month |
||||||||
More than 1 month but less than 3 months |
||||||||
More than 3 months but less than 6 months |
||||||||
More than 6 months but less than 1 year |
||||||||
More than 1 year |
||||||||
The carrying amounts of the Group’s trade payables are denominated in the following currencies:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Renminbi |
||||||||
USD |
||||||||
Others |
||||||||
F-96
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
39 |
Contract liabilities |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
| Unredeemed credits under the frequent flyer award programs (Note) |
||||||||
| Others |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
Note:
As at December 31, 2021, unredeemed credits under the frequent flyer award programs represent the aggregated amounts of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation, which is expected to be recognized as revenue in the future when the customers obtain control of the goods or services. Movement of unredeemed credits under the frequent flyer award programs is set out below:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
| Balance at January 1 |
||||||||
| -Current |
||||||||
| -Non-current |
||||||||
| Addition as a result of increase of the unredeemed credits under the frequent flyer award programs |
||||||||
| Reduction as a result of revenue recognized during the year |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| -Recognized as revenue from opening balance of contract liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| -Recognized as revenue from current year addition of contract liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Balance at December 31 |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Representing: |
||||||||
| -Current |
||||||||
| -Non-current (Note 41) |
||||||||
40 |
Sales in advance of carriage |
As at December 31, 2021, the amount of sales in advance of carriage represents revenue expected to be recognized in the future when the customers obtain control of and accept the passenger transportation services to be provided by the Group. During the year, RMB2,528 million (2020: RMB6,564 million) which was included in the opening balance of the sales in advance of carriage was recognized as revenue, and RMB1,267 million was refunded to the customers when it’s applicable to the
Covid-19
refund policy. F-97
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
41 |
Other non-current liabilities |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Unredeemed credits under the frequent flyer award programs |
39 | |||||||||||
| Long-term payables (Note) |
||||||||||||
| Others |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Note: | In 2020, the Group disposed certain aircraft through sale and leaseback agreement, and the long-term payables were additional financing provided by buyer-lessor to the Group in aircraft sale and leaseback transactions. As at December 31, 2021, long-term payables of RMB |
42 |
Balances with related companies |
(a) |
Amounts due from related companies |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Current |
||||||||||||
| CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
||||||||||||
| Joint ventures |
||||||||||||
| Other related company |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 50(c) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||
| Non-current |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
50(c) | |||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
The amounts due from associates include long-term receivables of RMB183 million (including the portion due within one year) relating to a finance lease arrangement (Note(26)(ii)). Other than that, the remaining amounts due from related companies are unsecured, interest free and have no fixed terms of repayment. They are expected to be recovered within one year.
(b) |
Prepayments to related companies for acquisition of long-term assets |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Non-current |
||||||||||||
| CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
||||||||||||
| Joint ventures |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 30&50(c) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
F-98
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
42 |
Balances with related companies (continued) |
(c) |
Amounts due to related companies |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
Current |
||||||||||||
CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||
Associates |
||||||||||||
Joint ventures |
||||||||||||
| 50(c) | ||||||||||||
The amounts due to related companies are unsecured, interest free and have no fixed terms of repayment. They are expected to be settled within one year.
43 |
Accrued expenses |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Repairs and maintenance |
||||||||
Salaries and welfare |
||||||||
Landing and navigation fees |
||||||||
Jet fuel costs |
||||||||
Computer reservation services |
||||||||
Provision for major overhauls (Note 45) |
||||||||
Air catering expenses |
||||||||
Interest expense |
||||||||
Others |
||||||||
44 |
Other liabilities |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Payable for purchase of property, plant and equipment |
||||||||
Civil Aviation Development Fund and airport tax payable |
||||||||
Sales agent deposits |
||||||||
Other taxes payable |
||||||||
Deposit received for chartered flights |
||||||||
Others |
||||||||
F-99
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
45 |
Provision for major overhauls |
Details of provision for major overhauls in respect of aircraft held under leases are as follows:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
At January 1 |
||||||||
Additional provision |
||||||||
Utilization |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
At December 31 |
||||||||
Less: current portion (Note 43) |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
46 |
Deferred benefits and gains |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Maintenance rebates |
||||||||
Government grants |
||||||||
Others |
||||||||
47 |
Share capital |
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
Registered, issued and paid up capital: |
||||||||
Trade-restricted: |
||||||||
— |
||||||||
Tradable: |
||||||||
each) (Notes (ii) & (iii)) |
||||||||
A shares of RMB |
||||||||
Notes:
| (i) | All the A and H shares rank pari passu in all material respects. |
| (ii) | For the year ended December 31, 2021, |
| (iii) | In September 2018, the Company issued December 31, 2021 , the trading restriction on |
| (iv) | In September 2018 and April 2020, the Company issued H shares (“2020 H shares”) to a fellow subsidiary of CSAH. Considering that the 2018 H shares and the 2020 H shares are not subject to restrictions on sales in nature, the 2018 H shares and the 2020 H shares were reclassified from trade-restricted shares to tradable shares during the year ended December 31, 2021. |
F-100
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
48 |
Reserves |
(a) |
Dividends |
The directors did no
(b) |
Share premium |
The share premium represents the difference between the par value of the shares of the Company and consideration for the shares issued
(c) |
Fair value reserve (recycling) |
The fair value reserve (recycling) mainly comprises the hedge reserve which comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of hedging instruments used in cash flow hedges pending subsequent recognition of the hedged cash flow in accordance with the accounting policy adopted for cash flow hedges in Note 2(g) and share of an associate’s cumulative net change in the fair value of debts investments measured at FVOCI.
(d) |
Fair value reserve (non-recycling) |
The fair value reserve
(non-recycling)
mainly comprises the Group’s and share of an associate’s cumulative net change in the fair value of equity investments designated at FVOCI under IFRS 9 that are held at the end of the reporting period (see Note 2(f)). (e) |
Other reserves |
Other reserves mainly comprise statutory surplus reserve. According to the PRC Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company and its certain subsidiaries, the Company and the relevant subsidiaries are required to transfer 10% of their annual net profits after taxation, as determined under the PRC accounting rules and regulations, to a statutory surplus reserve until the reserve balance reaches 50% of the registered capital. The transfer to this reserve must be made before distribution of dividend to shareholders and when there are retained earnings at the end of the financial year.
Statutory surplus reserve can be used to offset prior years’ losses, if any, and may be converted into share capital by the issue of new shares to shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholding or by increasing the par value of the shares currently held by them, provided that the balance after such issue is not less than 25% of the registered capital.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did no t make any appropriation of statutory surplus reserve as the Company recorded a net loss in 2021 (2020: Nil ).
F-101
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
49 |
Commitments |
(a) |
Capital commitments |
Capital commitments outstanding as at December 31, 2021 not provided for in the financial statements were as follows:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
| Commitments in respect of aircraft and flight equipment |
||||||||
| – authorized and contracted for |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Investment commitments |
||||||||
| – authorised and contracted for |
||||||||
| – share of capital commitments of a joint venture |
||||||||
| – capital contributions for acquisition of interests in an associate |
— |
|||||||
| – authorized but not contracted for |
||||||||
| – share of capital commitments of a joint venture |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| Commitments for other property, plant and equipment |
||||||||
| – authorized and contracted for |
||||||||
| – authorized but not contracted for |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
As at December 31, 2021, the approximate total future payments, including estimated amounts for price escalation through anticipated delivery dates for aircraft and flight equipment are as follows:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||
| 2021 |
||||||||
| 2022 |
||||||||
| 2023 |
||||||||
| 2024 |
||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||
F-102
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions |
(a) |
Key management personnel remuneration |
Remuneration for key management personnel of the Group, including amounts paid to the Company’s directors (excluding independent
non-executive
directors) as disclosed in Note 58, is as follows: 2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
||||||||||
Salaries, wages and welfare |
||||||||||||
Retirement scheme contributions |
||||||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
||||||||||
Directors and supervisors (Note 5 8 ) |
||||||||||||
Senior management |
||||||||||||
Total remuneration is included in “staff costs” (Note 13).
F-103
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(b) |
Transactions with CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group |
The Group provided various operational services to CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group during the normal course of its business. The Group also received operational services provided by these entities.
Details of the significant transactions carried out by the Group are as follows:
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||
Income from CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||||
Rental income |
(i) | |||||||||||||
Aviation material sales income |
(ii) | |||||||||||||
Entrusted management income |
(iii) | |||||||||||||
Commission income |
(iv) | |||||||||||||
Others |
||||||||||||||
Purchase of goods and services from CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||||
Commission expenses |
(v) | |||||||||||||
Maintenance material purchase expense and lease charges for maintenance material s |
(ii) | |||||||||||||
Air catering supplies expenses |
(i) | |||||||||||||
Lease charges for land and buildings |
(vi) | |||||||||||||
Property management fee |
(vii) | |||||||||||||
Others |
||||||||||||||
Purchase of goods and services from joint ventures and associates |
||||||||||||||
Repairing charges |
(viii) | |||||||||||||
Repairing charges and maintenance material purchase expenses |
(ix) | |||||||||||||
Ground service expenses |
(x) | |||||||||||||
Air catering supplies |
(xi) | |||||||||||||
Advertising expenses |
(xii) | |||||||||||||
Property management fee |
(xiii) | |||||||||||||
Lease charges for land and buildings |
(xiv) | |||||||||||||
Commission expenses |
(xv) | |||||||||||||
Others |
||||||||||||||
Income received from joint ventures and associates |
||||||||||||||
Maintenance material sales and handling income |
(xvi) | |||||||||||||
Entrustment income for advertising media business |
(xii) | |||||||||||||
Repairing income |
(xv) | |||||||||||||
Air catering supplies income |
(xv) | |||||||||||||
Pilot training income |
(xv) | |||||||||||||
Ground service income |
(xv)&(xviii) | |||||||||||||
Transfer of pilots income |
(xv) | |||||||||||||
Aircraft leasing income |
(xvii) | |||||||||||||
Labor service income and rental income |
(xix) | |||||||||||||
Others |
||||||||||||||
F-104
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(b) |
Transactions with CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group (continued) |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
RMB million |
|||||||||||||
| Purchase of goods and services from other related companies |
||||||||||||||||
| Computer reservation services |
(xx) | |||||||||||||||
| Aviation supplies expenses |
(xxi) | |||||||||||||||
| Canteen service |
(xxi) | |||||||||||||||
| Others |
||||||||||||||||
| Aircraft related transactions with CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||||||
| Payment of lease charges on aircraft |
(xxii) | |||||||||||||||
(i) |
Shenzhen Air Catering Co., Ltd. (“SACC”) is an associate of CSAH. |
Air catering supplies expenses are payable by the Group in respect of certain
in-flight
meals and related services with SACC. In addition, the Group leased certain land and buildings, equipment to SACC under operating lease agreements.
(ii) |
China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (“CASC”) is an associate of CSAH. |
The Group purchases software service, as well as purchases and leases maintenance materials from CASC, and CASC also purchases maintenance materials from the Group.
(iii) |
China Northern Airlines Co., Ltd. (“CNAC”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAH. |
The Group provides entrusted management service to CSAH and CNAC.
(iv) |
China Southern Airlines Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. (“SAIB”), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAH. The Group provides certain website resources to SAIB for the sales of air insurance. |
(v) |
Commission is earned by Shenzhen Baiyun Air Service Co.,Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAH, in connection with the air tickets sold by them on behalf of the Group. Commission is calculated based on the rates stipulated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and International Air Transportation Association. |
(vi) |
The Group leases certain land and buildings in the PRC from CSAH and its affiliates. The amount represents rental expenses for land and buildings paid or payable to CSAH and its affiliates. |
F-105
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(b) |
Transactions with CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group (continued) |
(vii) |
China Southern Airlines Group Property Management Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAH, and COHL&CSAH Construction Development Co.,Ltd., a joint venture of CSAH, both provide property management services to the Group. |
(viii) |
MTU, a joint venture of the Group, provides comprehensive maintenance services to the Group. |
(ix) |
GAMECO, a joint venture of the Group, and Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance, a former joint venture of the Group, both provide comprehensive maintenance services and leases maintenance materials to the Group. Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group on April 23, 2019. |
The Group also purchases maintenance material from GAMECO.
(x) |
Beijing Aviation Ground Services Co.,Ltd. and Shenyang Konggang, associates of the Group provide ground services to the Group. |
(xi) |
Beijing Airport Inflight Kitchen Co.,Ltd. is an associate of the Group and provides air catering related services to the Group. |
(xii) |
SACM, an associate of the Group, provides advertising services to the Group. The Group provides certain media resources to SACM. |
(xiii) |
Xinjiang Civil Aviation Property Management Ltd., an associate of the Group, provides property management services to the Group. |
(xiv) |
Beijing Xingming Lake Jinyan Hotel Co., Ltd. an associate of the Group, provides land and buildings lease services to the Group. |
(xv) |
The Group provides repairing service and air catering supplies service to Sichuan Airlines. |
Commission is earned by Sichuan Airlines in connection with the air tickets sold on behalf of the Group.
In addition, the Group provides pilot training service, ground services and transferred pilots to Sichuan Airlines.
(xvi) |
The Group imports and sells maintenance materials to GAMECO and MTU, and earns maintenance materials sales and handling income. |
(xvii) |
The Group provides aircraft lease service to Sichuan Airlines and earns aircraft leasing income. |
(xviii) |
The Group provides ground services to Shenyang Konggang, which is an associate of the Group. |
(xix) |
The Group provides labor service to Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance, and the charge rates are determined by reference to prevailing market price. In addition, the Group leases certain property and equipment to Shenyang Aircraft Maintenance. |
F-106
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(b) |
Transactions with CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group (continued) |
(xx) |
China Travel Sky Holding Company is a related party of the Group as a key management personnel of the Group was appointed as the director of China Travel Sky Holding Company. It provides computer reservation services to the Group. |
(xxi) |
The chairman of Pearl Aviation Services is the key management personnel of the Company. The Group purchases aviation supplies and canteen services from Pearl Aviation Services. |
In December 2019, Pearl Aviation Services became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group.
(xxii) |
China Southern Airlines International Finance Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CSA International”), originally a wholly owned subsidiary of CSAH, and became a joint venture of CSAH in 2019, provides aircraft and engines lease services to the Group. Also, the Group disposed aircraft to CSA International. |
F-107
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(c) |
Balances with CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group |
Details of amounts due from/to CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related company of the Group:
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Current receivables: |
||||||||||||
| CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
||||||||||||
| Joint ventures |
||||||||||||
| Other related company |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 42(a) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Long-term receivables: |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 42(a) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Prepayments of acquisition of long-term assets: |
||||||||||||
| CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
||||||||||||
| Joint ventures |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 30&42(b) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
2021 |
2020 |
|||||||||||
Note |
RMB million |
RMB million |
||||||||||
| Payables: |
||||||||||||
| CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||||||
| Associates |
||||||||||||
| Joint ventures |
||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 42(c) | ||||||||||||
| |
|
|
|
|||||||||
F-108
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(c) |
Balances with CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group (continued) |
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Accrued expenses: |
||||||||
CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||
Associates |
||||||||
Joint ventures |
||||||||
Other related companies |
||||||||
Lease liabilities: |
||||||||
The CSAH and its affiliates |
||||||||
Except the lease liabilities, the amounts due from/to CSAH and its affiliates, associates, joint ventures and other related companies of the Group are unsecured, interest-free and have no fixed terms of repayment.
(d) |
Loans from and deposits placed with related parties |
(i) |
Loans from Finance Company |
At December 31, 2021, loans from Finance Company to the Group amounted to
RMBThe unsecured loans are repayable as follows:
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Within 1 year |
||||||||
After 1 year but within 2 years |
||||||||
After 2 years but within 5 years |
||||||||
Interest expense paid on such loans amounted to RMB76 million (2020: RMB27 million) and the interest rates range from 3.00% to 3.30% per annum during the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: 3.00% to 4.28% ).
F-109
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
50 |
Material related party transactions (continued) |
(d) |
Loans from and deposits placed with related parties (continued) |
(ii) |
Entrusted loans from CSAH |
In June 2021, CSAH, Finance Company and the Group entered into an entrusted loan agreement, pursuant to which, CSAH, as the lender, entrusted Finance Company to lend
RMB1,000 million to the Group. In May and June 2020, the Group repaid the entrusted loan from CSAH which was obtained in previous year.
As at December 31, 2021, the unsecured entrusted loans of RMB1,001 million (including accrued interest expense of RMB1 million) on repayable after 2 years but within 5 years (December 31, 2020: Nil ) (Note 36(e)).
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 on such loan amounted to RMB22 million (2020: RMB89 million) and the interest rate was 3.85 % per annum (2020: 3.92 % per annum).
(iii) |
Convertible bonds subscribed by CSAH |
In October 2020, the Group issued a total of 160,000,000 A share convertible bonds with par value of RMB100 each at par, among which, CSAH subscribed for 101,027,580
of the convertible bonds.
In June 2021, CSAH has converted all of the subscribed convertible bonds to A share ordinary shares. As at December 31, 2021, CSAH does not hold any convertible bonds issued by the Group.
(iv) |
Medium-term notes subscribed by Finance Company |
In March 2020, the Group issued a tranche of medium-term notes in the amount of RMB1,000,000,000 with a term of 5 years from the issuance, date at an annual interest rate of 3.28 300,000,000 300,000,000 of the medium-term notes.
%, and Finance Company subscribed for
RMBof the medium-term notes. As at December 31, 2021, Finance Company holds
RMB(v) |
Deposits placed with Finance Company |
As at December 31, 2021, the Group’s deposits with Finance Company are presented in the table below. The applicable interest rates are determined in accordance with the rates published by the PBOC.
2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Deposits placed with Finance Company |
||||||||
Interest income received on such deposits amounted to RMB159 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 (2020: RMB91 million).
F-110
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
51 |
Employee benefits plan |
(a) |
Retirement benefits |
Employees of the Group participate in several defined contribution retirement schemes organized separately by the PRC municipal and provincial governments in regions where the major operations of the Group are located. The Group is required to contribute to these schemes at rates ranging from 14 % to 16 % (2020: 14 % to 16 %; 2019: 12 % to 16 %) of salary costs including certain allowances. A member of the retirement schemes is entitled to pension benefits from the Local Labor and Social Security Bureau upon his/her retirement. The retirement benefit obligations of all retired staff of the Group are assumed by these schemes. The Group, at its sole discretion, had made certain welfare subsidy payments to these retirees.
In 2014, the Company and its major subsidiaries joined a new defined contribution retirement scheme (“Pension Scheme”) that was implemented by CSAH. The annual contribution to the Pension Scheme is based on a fixed specified percentage of prior year’s annual wage. There will be no further obligation beyond the annual contribution according to the Pension Scheme. The total contribution into the Pension Scheme in 2021 was approximately RMB998 million (2020: RMB1,043 million; 2019: RMB985 million).
For the year ended December 31, 2021, there is no forfeited contribution under the retirement schemes and Pension Scheme which may be used by the Group to reduce the contribution payable in future years.
(b) |
Housing benefits |
The Group contributes on a monthly basis to housing funds organized by municipal and provincial governments based on certain percentages of the salaries of employees. The Group’s liability in respect of these funds is limited to the contributions payable in each year.
The Group also pays cash housing subsidies on a monthly basis to eligible employees. The monthly cash housing subsidies are charged to income statement.
52 |
Supplementary information to the consolidated cash flow statement |
Non-cash
transactions 2021 RMB million |
2020 RMB million |
|||||||
Lease of aircraft |
||||||||
Convertible bonds converted to A shares |
— | |||||||
F-111
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
53 |
Contingent liabilities |
(a) |
The Group leased certain properties and buildings from CSAH which were located in Guangzhou, Wuhan, Haikou, etc. Although such properties and buildings were used by CSAH before being leased to the Group, as known to the Group, such properties and buildings lack adequate documentation evidencing CSAH’s rights thereto. Pursuant to the indemnification agreement dated May 22, 1997 entered into between the Group and CSAH, CSAH has agreed to indemnify the Group against any loss or damage arising from any challenge of the Group’s right to use the aforementioned properties and buildings. |
(b) |
The Group entered into certain agreements with CSAH in prior years to acquire certain land use right and buildings from CSAH. The change of business registration of such land use right and buildings are still in progress. CSAH issued letters of commitment to the Company, committing to indemnify the Group against any claims from third parties to the Group, or any loss or damage in the Group’s operation activities due to lack adequate documentation of the certain properties and buildings, without recourse to the Group. |
(c) |
The Company and its subsidiary, Xiamen Airlines, entered into agreements with certain pilot trainees and certain banks to provide guarantees on personal bank loans amounting to RMB |
54 |
Immediate and ultimate controlling party |
As at December 31, 2021, the Directors of the Company consider the immediate parent and ultimate controlling party of the Group to be CSAH, a state-owned enterprise established in the PRC.
55 |
Approval of financial statements |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on April 28, 202
2
. 56 |
Non-adjusting events after the financial year end |
On October 29, 2021, the Company entered into the Conditional Subscription Agreement in relation to the Subscription of the A Shares under the Non-public Issue of A Shares of the Company with CSAH, pursuant to which the Company proposed to
issue 803,571,428 new A Shares to CSAH (“the A Share Issuance”). The total funds to be raised from the A Share Issuance will be not more than RMB4,500 million (including RMB4,500
million). The consideration shall be made by CSAH in full by cash. On October 29, 2021, the Company entered into the Conditional Subscription Agreement in relation to the Subscription of the H Shares under the Non-public Issue of H Shares of the Company with Nan Lung Holding Limited (“Nan Lung”), pursuant to which the Company proposed to issue not more
t
han million). The consideration shall be made by Nan Lung in full by cash. Both of the A Share Issuance and the connected transaction contemplated under H Share Issuance were approved by the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company on December 28, 2021. The Company announced that it had received the “Acceptance Notice of the Application for Administration Permission” issued by China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) for the A Share Issuance and H share Issuance on January 10, 2022 and January 11, 2022, respectively. On March 18, 2022, the Company announced that it had received the Approval on Issuance of Overseas Listed Foreign Shares by China Southern Airlines Company Limited (Zheng Jian Xu Ke 2022 No. 497) issued by the CSRC. Up to the issuance date of these financial statements, the A Share Issuance is under review by CSRC.
F-112
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
57 |
Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic |
The
COVID-19
pandemic since early 2020 has brought about additional uncertainties in the Group’s operating environment and had an adverse impact on the Group’s business operation and operating revenue in 2021. The Group has been closely monitoring the impact of the developments on the Group’s business and has been proactively adjusting its business strategies. These strategies include: making adjustments to the scheduling of domestic and international routes and flights, according to the measures taken by related countries and regions on epidemic prevention and control; actively developing freight transport business and overall improving the utilization rate of freighters.
58 |
Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments |
The remuneration of every director and supervisor for the year ended December 31, 2021 is set out below:
| Name | Directors’ fees |
Salaries, wages and welfare |
Housing allowance |
Employer’s contribution to a retirement benefit scheme |
Total | |||||||||||||||
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
||||||||||||||||
Executive directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Ma Xu Lun (Note (i)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Han Wen Sheng (Note (i) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Supervisors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Li Jia Shi ( Notes (ii)&(xii))) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Ren Ji Dong(Notes (iii)&(xiii)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Lin Xiao Chun |
||||||||||||||||||||
Mao Juan (Note ( x )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Yang Bin (Note ( xi )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Independent non-executive directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Liu Chang Le (Note ( ix )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Guo Wei (Note ( ix )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Yan Yan (Note ( ix )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Gu Hui Zhong |
||||||||||||||||||||
Tan Jin Song (Note ( viii )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Jiao Shu Ge (Note ( viii )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Zheng Fan (Note ( viii )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
F-113
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
58 |
Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments (continued) |
The remuneration of every director and supervisor for the year ended December 31, 2020 is set out below:
Directors’ fees |
Salaries, wages and welfare |
Housing allowance |
Employer’s contribution to a retirement benefit scheme |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Name | RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
RMB ’000 |
|||||||||||||||
Executive directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Wang Chang Shun ( Notes (i)&(vii)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Ma Xu Lun (Note (i)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Han Wen Sheng (Note (i)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Supervisors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Li Jia Shi (Note (ii)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Mao Juan |
||||||||||||||||||||
Lin Xiao Chun |
||||||||||||||||||||
Independent non-executive directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Tan Jin Song |
||||||||||||||||||||
Jiao Shu Ge |
||||||||||||||||||||
Zheng Fan (Note (iv )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Gu Hui Zhong (Note (iv )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
F-114
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
58 |
Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments (continued) |
The remuneration of every director and supervisor for the year ended December 31, 2019 is set out below:
| Name | Directors’ fees |
Salaries, wages and welfare |
Housing allowance |
Employer’s contribution to a retirement benefit scheme |
Total | |||||||||||||||
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
RMB ‘000 |
||||||||||||||||
Executive directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Wang Chang Shun (Note (i)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Ma Xu Lun ( Notes (i)&(v) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Han Wen Sheng (Note s (i)&(v )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Zhang Zi Fang (Notes (i)&(vi) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Supervisors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Pan Fu(Notes (i)&(vi)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Li Jia Shi (Note (ii)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Mao Juan |
||||||||||||||||||||
Lin Xiao Chun (Note (v)) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Independent non-executive directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Tan Jin Song |
||||||||||||||||||||
Jiao Shu Ge |
||||||||||||||||||||
Zheng Fan (Note ( iv )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Gu Hui Zhong (Note ( iv )) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
(i) |
These directors or supervisors did not receive any remuneration for their services in the capacity of the directors or supervisors of the Company. They also held management positions in CSAH and their salaries were borne by CSAH. |
(ii) |
Mr. Li Jia Shi did not receive any remuneration for his service in the capacity of the supervisor of the Company since February 1, 2018. He also held management position in CSAH and his salary was borne by CSAH. |
(iii) |
Mr. Ren Ji Dong did not receive any remuneration for his service in the capacity of the supervisor of the Company but received salary for his service in the capacity of the senior management in 2021. He also held management position in CSAH and his salary for his services was borne by CSAH since November 2021. |
(iv) |
In 2020 and 2019, Mr. Zheng Fan and Mr. Gu Hui Zhong received remuneration in accordance with the relevant provisions of the PRC. |
F-115
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
58 |
Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments (continued) |
(v) |
Appointed on May 8, 2019. |
(vi) |
Resigned on May 8, 2019. |
(vii) |
Mr. Wang Chang Shun retired on December 21, 2020. |
(viii) |
Resigned on April 30, 2021. |
(ix) |
Appointed on April 30, 2021. |
(x) |
Resigned on November 24, 2021. |
(xi) |
Appointed on November 24, 2021. |
(xii) |
Resigned on December 28, 2021. |
(xiii) |
Appointed on December 28, 2021. |
F-116
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Renminbi unless otherwise indicated)
59 |
Possible impact of amendments, new standards and interpretations issued but not yet effective for the year ended December 31, 2021 |
Up to the date of issue of these financial statements, the IASB has issued a number of amendments, and new standards which are not yet effective for the year ended December 31, 2021 and which have not been adopted in these financial statements. These include the following which may be relevant to the Group.
Effective for accounting periods beginning on or after |
||||
Amendments to IAS 37, Onerous Contracts — Cost of Fulfilling a Contract |
||||
Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 Cycle |
||||
Amendments to IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use |
||||
Amendments to IFRS 3, Reference to the Conceptual Framework |
||||
Amendments to IAS 1, Classification of liabilities as current or non-current |
||||
Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2, Disclosure of accounting policies |
||||
Amendments to IAS 8, Definition of accounting estimates |
||||
Amendments to IAS 12, Deferred tax related to assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction |
||||
The Group is in the process of making an assessment of what the impact of these developments is expected to be in the period of initial application.
So far it has concluded that except for the adoption of “”, the adoption of the developments above is unlikely to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Amendments to IAS 1, Classification of Liabilities as Current or
Non-current
As at December 31, 2021, if the “Amendments to IAS 1, Classification of Liabilities as Current or
RMB Non-current”
is adopted by the Group, the convertible bonds recorded in non-current liabilities amounted to F-117
