CHINA Southern Airlines Co (stock code: 600029) and all other Chinese domestic carriers posted a profit last month, as economic growth boosted demand for traveling and air cargo transport.

Combined sales of Chinese carriers rose 11 percent to 21.1 billion yuan (US$2.77 billion) in May from a year earlier, exceeding costs of 19.9 billion yuan, the General Administration of Civil Aviation said on its Website last night, Bloomberg reported.

Increasing travel demand and fuel surcharges in China have helped improve domestic carriers' competitiveness versus overseas rivals. Chinese airlines flew 19 percent more passengers and 16 percent more cargo last month.

China Southern, the nation's largest airline, and other carriers flew 15.5 million passengers in May, the regulator said. Cargo volume rose 16 percent from a year earlier to 306,000 tons.

China cut the levy on flights of more than 800 kilometers to 80 yuan per ticket starting January 21, from 100 yuan. The fee on shorter flights fell to 50 yuan from 60 yuan.

Ticket surcharges allow Chinese airlines to pass more of their fuel costs onto passengers. Fuel accounts for about 40 percent of Chinese carriers' costs.