Two of the 'Big 3' airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines, suffered worse than expected passenger loads before and during the Beijing Olympic Games in August, Orient Aviation reports.

Air China says the government's tightened visa regulations cut its international passenger figures by 24.3 per cent, and domestic demand by 14.7 per cent. Shanghai-based China Eastern has reported a 23 per cent drop in passengers for August.

Interim first half year results for the two airlines saw Air China's year-on-year profit drop 1.4 per cent, to RMB1.24bn, while troubled China Eastern reported a loss of RMB212m for the same period.