Chinese airlines stocks outperformed the A-share stock market Thursday.

The A-shares of the three Chinese airline giants China Southern Airlines (ZNH.NYSE; 01055.HK; 600029.SH), Air China (601111.SH; 0753.HK) and China Eastern Airlines (CEA.NYSE; 00670.HK; 600115.SH) gained 4.46 percent, 3.97 percent and 5.09 percent, respectively, outperforming the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which rose 0.85 percent to close at 3.155.05 points.

The Chinese airlines stocks were stimulated by China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)'s approval on the A-share issue scheme of China Eastern, which plans to place 1.35 billion A-shares and no more than 490 million H-shares, aiming to raise seven billion yuan.

The airline stocks are also supported by China's central government's official approval on the Shanghai Disneyland Project, announced by the Shanghai municipal government Wednesday. Many Chinese airlines hold the plan to open Disneyland flight routes in the future upon the settlement of the Disneyland project in Shanghai.

The A-shares of Shanghai Airlines (600591.SH) and Hainan Airlines (600221.SH) also surged 4.99 percent and 8.55 percent, respectively, on Thursday.

Copyright 2009 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY