China's largest airlines deepen losses in first quarter as competition, US tariffs to weigh

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's three biggest airlines reported deeper first-quarter losses on Tuesday from the same period a year ago, amid intensifying competition and economic pressures on consumers, and a worsening trade war with the United States. State-owned China Southern Airlines, Air China, and China Eastern have struggled to return to a break-even position after the COVID-19 pandemic, posting five consecutive years of annual losses. China said on Tuesday its airlines had been severely affected by the trade war between Washington and Beijing.