Air China Regulatory News (AIRC)

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中國國際航空股份有限公司

AIR CHINA LIMITED

(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 00753)

INTERIM RESULTS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

 INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

The Board presents the unaudited interim results of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2018 as follows:

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2018

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AT 30 JUNE 2018

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2018 have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 "Interim Financial Reporting" ("IAS 34") issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the "IASB") as well as with the applicable disclosure requirements of Appendix 16 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules"). The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Group's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017.

As at 30 June 2018, the Group's current liabilities exceeded its current assets by approximately RMB52,687 million. The liquidity of the Group is primarily dependent on its ability to maintain adequate cash inflows from operations and sufficient financing to meet its financial obligations as and when they fall due. Considering the Company's sources of liquidity and the unutilised bank facilities of RMB121,075 million as at 30 June 2018, the Directors believe that adequate funding is available to fulfil the Group's debt obligations and capital expenditure requirements when preparing these condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2018. Accordingly, these condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a basis that the Group will be able to continue as a going concern.

2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for certain financial instruments, which are measured at fair value.

Other than changes in accounting policies resulting from application of new and amendments to International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs"), the accounting policies and methods of computation used in the condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2018 are the same as those followed in the preparation of the Group's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017.

Application of new and amendments to IFRSs

In the current interim period, the Group has applied, for the first time, the following new and amendments to IFRSs issued by the IASB which are mandatory effective for the annual period beginning on or after 1 January 2018 for the preparation of the Group's condensed consolidated financial statements.

In addition, the Group has applied Amendments to IFRS 9 Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation in advance of the effective date, i.e. 1 January 2019.

The new and amendments to IFRSs have been applied in accordance with the relevant transition provisions in the respective standards and amendments which resulted in changes in accounting policies, amounts reported and disclosures as described below.

2.1 Impacts and changes in accounting policies of application on IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Group has applied IFRS 15 for the first time in the current interim period. IFRS 15 superseded IAS 18 Revenue, IAS 11 Construction Contracts and the related interpretations.

The Group recognises revenue from the following major sources:

• Air traffic revenue

• Revenue from airline-related services

• Sale of goods

The Group has applied IFRS 15 retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this Standard recognised at the date of initial application, 1 January 2018. Any difference at the date of initial application is recognised in the opening retained earnings (or other components of equity, as appropriate) and comparative information has not been restated. Furthermore, in accordance with the transition provisions in IFRS 15, the Group has elected to apply the Standard retrospectively only to contracts that are not completed at 1 January 2018. Accordingly, certain comparative information may not be comparable as comparative information was prepared under IAS 18 Revenue and IAS 11 Construction Contracts and the related interpretations.

2.1.1 Key changes in accounting policies resulting from application of IFRS 15

IFRS 15 introduces a 5-step approach when recognizing revenue:

• Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer

• Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract

• Step 3: Determine the transaction price

• Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

• Step 5: Recognise revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation

Under IFRS 15, the Group recognises revenue when (or as) a performance obligation is satisfied, i.e. when "control" of the goods or services underlying the particular performance obligation is transferred to the customer.

A performance obligation represents a good or service (or a bundle of goods or services) that is distinct or a series of distinct goods or services that are substantially the same.

Control is transferred over time and revenue is recognised over time by reference to the progress towards complete satisfaction of the relevant performance obligation if one of following criteria is met:

• the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the Group's performance as the Group performs;

• the Group's performance creates and enhances an asset that the customer controls as the Group performs; or

• the Group's performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Group and the Group has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date.

Otherwise, revenue is recognised at a point in time when the customer obtains control of the distinct good or service.

A contract asset represents the Group's right to consideration in exchange for goods or services that the Group has transferred to a customer that is not yet unconditional. It is assessed for impairment in accordance with IFRS 9. In contrast, a receivable represents the Group's unconditional right to consideration, i.e. only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due.

A contract liability, also together with air traffic liability, represents the Group's obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the Group has received consideration (or an amount of consideration is due) from the customer.

Passenger ticket breakage

Passenger ticket breakage consists of flight tickets that remain unused past the departure date or the ultimate expiration date. Prior to the adoption of IFRS 15, revenue of the Group arising from passenger ticket breakage was recognized when the likelihood of the passenger exercising their remaining rights becomes remote.

Upon adoption of IFRS 15, for those passenger flight tickets the Group expects to be entitled to breakage because the passenger has not required the Group to perform and is unlikely to do so, the Group recognises the expected breakage amount as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the passenger (or flown revenue). This estimation is made such that the revenue recognized from passenger ticket breakage is highly probable not to result in a significant reversal of cumulative revenue in the future.

2.1.2 Summary of effects arising from initial application of IFRS 15

The following adjustments were made to the amounts recognised in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position at 1 January 2018. Line items that were not affected by the changes have not been included.

Notes:

(a) At the date of initial application of IFRS 15, passenger ticket breakage of RMB531 million, the respective value-added tax liability of RMB17 million and current taxation of RMB123 million were recognised with the corresponding adjustments of RMB373 million and RMB18 million made to retained earnings and non-controlling interests.

(b) The net effects arising from the initial application of IFRS 15 resulted in an increase in the carrying amount of interests in associates of RMB131 million with a corresponding adjustment made to retained earnings.

(c) At the date of initial application of IFRS 15, deferred income (including current portion of RMB707 million previously included in other payables and accruals and non-current portion of RMB2,823 million) relating to the frequent-flyer programme of RMB3,530 million was reclassified to contract liabilities.

(d) At the date of initial application of IFRS 15, advance billings to customers for aircraft engineering services of RMB519 million previously included in other payables and accruals was reclassified to contract liabilities.

The following tables summarise the impacts of applying IFRS 15 on the Group's condensed consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 June 2018 and its condensed consolidated statement of profit or loss for the current interim period for each of the line items affected. Line items that were not affected by the changes have not been included.

Impact on the condensed consolidated statement of financial position

Impact on the condensed consolidated statement of profit or loss

2.2 Impacts and changes in accounting policies of application on IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and the related amendments

In the current period, the Group has applied IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, Amendments to IFRS 9 Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation and the related consequential amendments to other IFRSs. IFRS 9 introduces new requirements for 1) the classification and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities, 2) expected credit losses ("ECL") for financial assets and 3) general hedge accounting.

The Group has applied IFRS 9 in accordance with the transition provisions set out in IFRS 9, i.e. applied the classification and measurement requirements (including impairment) retrospectively to instruments that have not been derecognised as at 1 January 2018 (date of initial application) and has not applied the requirements to instruments that have already been derecognised as at 1 January 2018. The difference between carrying amounts as at 31 December 2017 and the carrying amounts as at 1 January 2018 are recognised in the opening retained earnings and other components of equity, without restating comparative information.

Accordingly, certain comparative information may not be comparable as comparative information was prepared under IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

2.2.1 Key changes in accounting policies resulting from application of IFRS 9

Classification and measurement of financial assets

Accounts receivable arising from contracts with customers are initially measured in accordance with IFRS 15.

All recognised financial assets that are within the scope of IFRS 9 are subsequently measured at amortised cost or fair value, including unquoted equity investments measured at cost less impairment under IAS 39.

Debt instruments that meet the following conditions are subsequently measured at amortised cost:

• the financial asset is held within a business model whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, and

• the contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

Debt instruments that meet the following conditions are subsequently measured at fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVTOCI"):

• the financial asset is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling the financial assets; and

• the contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

All other financial assets are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL"), except that at the date of initial application/initial recognition of a financial asset the Group may irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes in fair value of an equity investment in other comprehensive income ("OCI") if that equity investment is neither held for trading nor contingent consideration recognised by an acquirer in a business combination to which IFRS 3 Business Combinations applies.

In addition, the Group may irrevocably designate a debt investment that meets the amortised cost or FVTOCI criteria as measured at FVTPL if doing so eliminates or significantly reduces an accounting mismatch.

Debt instruments classified as at FVTOCI

Subsequent changes in the carrying amounts for debt instruments classified as at FVTOCI as a result of interest income calculated using the effective interest method, are recognised in profit or loss. All other changes in the carrying amount of these debt instruments are recognised in OCI and accumulated under the heading of capital reserve. Impairment allowance are recognised in profit or loss with corresponding adjustment to OCI without reducing the carrying amount of these debt instruments. The amounts that are recognised in profit or loss are the same as the amounts that would have been recognised in profit or loss if these debt instruments had been measured at amortised cost. When these debt instruments are derecognised, the cumulative gains or losses previously recognised in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.

Equity instruments designated as at FVTOCI

At the date of initial application/initial recognition, the Group may make an irrevocable election (on an instrument-by-instrument basis) to designate investments in equity instruments as at FVTOCI.

Investments in equity instruments at FVTOCI are initially measured at fair value plus transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at fair value with gains and losses arising from changes in fair value recognised in OCI and accumulated in the capital reserve, and are not subject to impairment assessment. The cumulative gain or loss will not be reclassified to profit or loss on disposal of the equity investments, and will be transferred to retained earnings.

Dividends on these investments in equity instruments are recognised in profit or loss when the Group's right to receive the dividends is established in accordance with IFRS 9, unless the dividends clearly represent a recovery of part of the cost of the investment.

Financial assets at FVTPL

Financial assets that do not meet the criteria for being measured at amortised cost or FVTOCI or designated as FVTOCI are measured at FVTPL.

Financial assets at FVTPL are measured at fair value at the end of each reporting period, with any fair value gains or losses recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss recognised in profit or loss includes any dividend or interest earned on the financial asset.

The Directors reviewed and assessed the Group's financial assets as at 1 January 2018 based on the facts and circumstances that existed at that date. Changes in classification and measurement on the Group's financial assets and the impacts thereof are detailed in Note 2.2.2.

Impairment under ECL model

The Group recognises a loss allowance for ECL on financial assets which are subject to impairment under IFRS 9 (including accounts receivable, bills receivable, deposits and other receivables, restricted bank deposits, cash and cash equivalents, financial assets included in other current assets and other non-current assets, and debt instruments at FVTOCI). The amount of ECL is updated at each reporting date to reflect changes in credit risk since initial recognition.

Lifetime ECL represents the ECL that will result from all possible default events over the expected life of the relevant instrument. In contrast, 12- month ECL ("12m ECL") represents the portion of lifetime ECL that is expected to result from default events that are possible within 12 months after the reporting date. Assessment are done based on the Group's historical credit loss experience, adjusted for factors that are specific to the debtors, general economic conditions and an assessment of both the current conditions at the reporting date as well as the forecast of future conditions.

The Group always recognises lifetime ECL for accounts receivable and bills receivable. The ECL on these assets are assessed individually and/or collectively using a provision matrix with appropriate groupings.

For all other instruments, the Group measures the loss allowance equal to 12m ECL, unless when there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, the Group recognises lifetime ECL. The assessment of whether lifetime ECL should be recognised is based on significant increases in the likelihood or risk of a default occurring since initial recognition.

Significant increase in credit risk

In assessing whether the credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition, the Group compares the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as at the reporting date with the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as at the date of initial recognition. In making this assessment, 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:

• an actual or expected significant deterioration in the financial instrument's external (if available) or internal credit rating;

• significant deterioration in external market indicators of credit risk, e.g. a significant increase in the credit spread, the credit default swap prices for the debtor;

• existing or forecast adverse changes in business, financial or economic conditions that are expected to cause a significant decrease in the debtor's ability to meet its debt obligations;

• an actual or expected significant deterioration in the operating results of the debtor;

• an actual or expected significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or technological environment of the debtor that results in a significant decrease in the debtor's ability to meet its debt obligations.

Irrespective of the outcome of the above assessment, the Group presumes that the credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition when contractual payments are more than 30 days past due, unless the Group has reasonable and supportable information that demonstrates otherwise.

Despite the aforegoing, the Group assumes that the credit risk on a debt instrument has not increased significantly since initial recognition if the debt instrument is determined to have low credit risk at the reporting date. A debt instrument is determined to have low credit risk if i) it has a low risk of default, ii) the borrower has a strong capacity to meet its contractual cash flow obligations in the near term and iii) adverse changes in economic and business conditions in the longer term may, but will not necessarily, reduce the ability of the borrower to fulfil its contractual cash flow obligations. The Group considers a debt instrument to have low credit risk when it has an internal or external credit rating of 'investment grade' as per globally understood definitions.

The Group considers that default has occurred when the instrument is more than 90 days past due unless the Group has reasonable and supportable information to demonstrate that a more lagging default criterion is more appropriate.

Measurement and recognition of ECL

The measurement of ECL is a function of the probability of default, loss given default (i.e. the magnitude of the loss if there is a default) and the exposure at default. The assessment of the probability of default and loss given default is based on historical data adjusted by forward-looking information.

Generally, the ECL is estimated as the difference between all contractual cash flows that are due to the Group in accordance with the contract and all the cash flows that the Group expects to receive, discounted at the effective interest rate determined at initial recognition.

Interest income 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 amortised cost of the financial asset.

Except for investments in debt instruments that are measured at FVTOCI, the Group recognises an impairment gain or loss in profit or loss for all financial instruments by adjusting their carrying amount, with the exception of accounts receivable and other receivables where the corresponding adjustment is recognized through a loss allowance account. For investments in debt instruments that are measured at FVTOCI, the loss allowance is recognised in OCI and accumulated in capital reserve without reducing the carrying amounts of these debt instruments.

As at 1 January 2018, the Directors reviewed and assessed the Group's existing financial assets for impairment using reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 9. The results of the assessment and the impact thereof are detailed in Note 2.2.2.

Classification and measurement of financial liabilities

For non-substantial modifications of financial liabilities that do not result in derecognition, the carrying amount of the relevant financial liabilities will be calculated at the present value of the modified contractual cash flows discounted at the financial liabilities' original effective interest rate. Transaction costs or fees incurred are adjusted to the carrying amount of the modified financial liabilities and are amortised over the remaining term. Any adjustment to the carrying amount of the financial liability is recognised in profit or loss at the date of modification.

2.2.2 Summary of effects arising from initial application of IFRS 9

The table below illustrates the classification and measurement (including impairment) of financial assets under IFRS 9 and IAS 39 at the date of initial application, 1 January 2018.

(a) AFS investments

From AFS equity investments to FVTOCI

At the date of initial application of IFRS 9, approximately RMB300 million were reclassified from AFS securities to equity instruments at FVTOCI, of which RMB43 million related to unquoted equity investments previously measured at cost less impairment under IAS 39 and RMB257 million related to unlisted securities of a listed company previously measured at fair value under IAS 39. These investments are not held for trading and not expected to be sold in the foreseeable future. The fair value gains of RMB248 million relating to those investments previously carried at fair value continued to accumulate in capital reserve and non-controlling interests. In addition, impairment losses previously recognized of RMB26 million were transferred from retained earnings to capital reserve as at 1 January 2018.

From AFS debt investments to FVTOCI

Listed bonds with a fair value of RMB626 million and negotiable certificate of deposits with a fair value of RMB29 million were reclassified from AFS securities to debt instruments at FVTOCI, as these investments are held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling these assets and the contractual cash flows of these investments are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. Related fair value losses of RMB5.04 million continued to accumulate in the capital reserve from 1 January 2018.

From AFS debt investments to FVTPL

Entrusted products and financing products with a fair value of RMB380 million were reclassified from AFS securities to financial assets at FVTPL. This is because even though the Group's business model is to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, the cash flows of these investments do not meet the IFRS 9 criteria as solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. Interests receivable on these products of RMB14 million were reclassified from prepayments, deposits and other receivables to financial assets at FVTPL as well.

Impact of interests in associates

The net effect arising from the initial application of IFRS 9 by Cathay Pacific Airways Limited ("Cathay Pacific", an associate of the Group) resulted in an increase of RMB172 million in retained earnings with a corresponding adjustment to capital reserve.

(b) Held-to-maturity investments

Listed bonds of RMB10 million previously classified as held-to-maturity investments were reclassified to other current assets and measured at amortised cost upon application of IFRS 9.

(c) Impairment under ECL model

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measure ECL which uses a lifetime ECL for all accounts receivable and bills receivable. To measure the ECL, some receivables are assessed individually and others are grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics.

Loss allowances for other financial assets at amortised cost mainly comprise restricted bank deposits, cash and cash equivalents, deposits and other receivables, other current assets and other non-current assets, are measured on 12m ECL basis and there had been no significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, except for certain other receivables which are measured on lifetime ECL basis as their credit risk had increased significantly since initial recognition.

All of the Group's debt instruments at FVTOCI are listed bonds and negotiable certificate of deposits that are graded in the top credit rating among rating agencies. Therefore, these investments are considered to be low credit risk investments and the loss allowance is measured on 12m ECL basis.

Application of ECL model did not have any significant impact on retained earnings as at 1 January 2018.

Except as described above, the application of other amendments to IFRSs in the current interim period has had no material effect on the amounts reported and/or disclosures set out in these condensed consolidated financial statements.

2.3 Impacts on opening condensed consolidated statement of financial position arising from the application of all new standards

As a result of the changes in the entity's accounting policies above, the opening condensed consolidated statement of financial position had to be restated. The following table shows the adjustments recognised for each individual line item.

2.4 New key source of estimation uncertainty

The Group recognises the expected breakage amount as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the passenger (or flown revenue) based on historical experience. This estimation is made such that the revenue recognised from passenger ticket breakage is highly probable not to result in a significant reversal of cumulative revenue in the future. As at 30 June 2018, the carrying amount of air traffic liabilities was RMB7,838 million.

3A. REVENUE

Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for goods or services

3B. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Group's operating businesses are structured and managed separately, according to the nature of their operations and the services they provide. The Group has the following reportable operating segments:

(a) the "airline operations" segment which mainly comprises the provision of air passenger and air cargo services; and

(b) the "other operations" segment which comprises the provision of aircraft engineering, ground services and other airline-related services.

In determining the Group's geographical information, revenue is attributed to the segments based on the origin and destination of each flight. Assets, which consist principally of aircraft and ground equipment, supporting the Group's worldwide transportation network, are mainly registered/located in Mainland China. An analysis of the assets of the Group by geographical distribution has therefore not been included.

Intersegment sales and transfers are transacted with reference to the selling prices used for sales made to third parties at the then prevailing market prices.

Operating segments

The following tables present the Group's consolidated revenue and profit before taxation regarding the Group's operating segments in accordance with the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises of the PRC ("CASs") for the six months ended 30 June 2018 and 2017 and the reconciliations of reportable segment revenue and profit before taxation to the Group's consolidated amounts under IFRSs:

For the six months ended 30 June 2018

For the six months ended 30 June 2017

The following table presents the segment assets of the Group's operating segments under CASs as at 30 June 2018 and 31 December 2017 and the reconciliations of reportable segment assets to the Group's consolidated amounts under IFRSs:

Geographical information

The following tables present the Group's consolidated revenue under IFRSs by geographical location for the six months ended 30 June 2018 and 2017, respectively:

For the six months ended 30 June 2018

For the six months ended 30 June 2017

4. OTHER INCOME AND GAINS

Note: Certain air traffic revenue in the comparative figure was reclassified to government grants to conform with the presentation in this period in respect of subsidies granted by various local governments controlled parties to encourage the Group to operate certain routes to cities where these governments are located.

5. PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS

The Group's profit from operations is arrived at after charging/(crediting):

6. FINANCE COSTS

An analysis of the Group's finance costs during the period is as follows:

The interest capitalisation rates during the period range from 2.67% to 4.57% per annum (six months ended 30 June 2017: 3.09% to 3.92% per annum) relating to the costs of related borrowings during the period.

7. INCOME TAX EXPENSE