Air China net profits up 1.33% in 2018

BEIJING - Air China, the country's flag carrier, saw its net profits edge up 1.33 percent in 2018 to 7.34 billion yuan ($1.1 billion), according to a company statement.

Operating revenue climbed 12.7 percent to 136.77 billion yuan last year.

The company achieved "relatively good" financial results despite the adverse effect of higher oil prices and a weaker yuan, according to the statement.

Domestic and international travel demand was robust, and the company strengthened cost control, it said.

The airline, now having 669 passenger planes, carried 110 million passengers in 2018, up 8 percent from 2017.

The company said it will continue to upgrade business models, improve services and control costs in 2019, predicting sustained growth in air travel demand and a better business environment.