Analysts are pointing to Hong Kong-traded Air China as the leading turnaround candidate among struggling Chinese airlines. 753-HK 5Y line Air China 60% below peak While 2024 saw Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rally nearly 18%, Air China saw a more muted, low single-digit increase that left it trading more than 60% below its 2018 all-time high. That gives Air China a "significantly more attractive" valuation, close to its five-year pre-pandemic average, the DBS analysts said. Citi analysts in early December reiterated their buy rating on Air China, calling it their top travel stock pick among Chinese airlines. The analysts upgraded Air China to overweight from neutral — reversing a downgrade made in early October, according to FactSet.

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Persons: Jason Sum, Paul Yong, deleverage, Trip.com, Donald Trump, Goldman Sachs, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Sean Conlon Organizations: Air China, DBS, Citigroup, United Airline, Star Alliance, Hong Kong, Air China's, HK, China, Air, Citi, JPMorgan, Cathay Pacific, U.S, Goldman, . Locations: Hong Kong, China, U.S, Beijing, Air China, Europe, North America, Hong, Japan, Chicago