Few in the aviation industry would name Xiamen Airlines in the list of leading Asia Pacific airlines, let alone in the Top 10. But Xiamen Airlines, now ranked sixth in Asia by seats per week, is a name to watch. The chiefly domestic Chinese airline is also one of the world's most consistently profitable, notching 24 consecutive years in the black - an amazing achievement given the volatility in the industry over this period.

Further healthy growth by Xiamen Airlines is expected amid strong domestic and regional expansion. The carrier plans to significantly increase its scale over the next five years, targeting CNY30 billion (USD4.5 billion) in annual revenue, more than 30 million passengers and over 300,000 tonnes of cargo by 2015, the end of the 12th five-year plan (2011 to 2015). This will involve an average capacity growth rate of 14.9% p/a over the next five years. The carrier will also benefit from the development of a new airport in Xiamen as it grows its presence.