What is Air China required to do if they cancelled a Chinese domestic flight 40 days in advance?

Question

I bought a ticket with Air China specifically for the flight times. (I am picking up several groups at the airport in the evening on one night) I have recently received an email about a flight change for one person on the second flight from Beijing to Guangzhou. It changed a reasonable 3 hr layover in Beijing to a 35 minute layover (with a 15 minute preboarding that allows 20 minutes). I called them and they offered to change the flight to the next day as they did not have any flights left that night. (I mentioned that would not be acceptable because I would then have several groups all delayed and have to get accommodation for several groups)

What is the cancelation policy for Air China and where can I get info on it. Also is there any compensation rules that would apply in this case. The company is cancelling the flight 40 days in advance so it is not because of weather or an act of God. Is Air China required to compensate with money or travel vouchers in addition to the rescheduling of the flight?

Answer 1

As expected, the website of Air China is yielding results. They pretty much make it clear that they will either get you to your destination within "reasonable time" or refund your ticket:

9.2.2 [...] if we cancel a flight, [...] we shall, at your option, either:

9.2.2.1 carry you at the earliest opportunity on another of our scheduled services on which space is available without additional charge and, where necessary, extend the validity of your Ticket; or

9.2.2.2 within a reasonable period of time re-route you to the destination shown on your Ticket [...] without additional charge. [...]; or

9.2.2.3 make a refund in accordance with the provisions of Article 10.2.

and regarding the ticket refund they state accordingly:

10.2.1 If we cancel a flight, [...] the amount of the refund shall be:

10.2.1.1 if no portion of the Ticket has been used, an amount equal to the fare paid;

You can consider 3 things:

1. While your business might be affected by delays and cancellations, you are in no position to claim losses for your business by those delays and cancellations - unfortunately. The best thing you can hope for is that you do not have to pay for a flight that you did not take.
2. There are 48 daily flights with daily from Beijing to Guangzhou. I would consider changing airline, one might be able to get you there
3. Delays and cancellations in Beijing are abundant. Even if your clients are coming in to Beijing and continue to Guangzhou on a very tight schedule, there is a reasonable chance that they will make the flight simply because the chance that the flight to Guangzhou is significantly delayed. After Shanghai and Istanbul, Beijing is the airport with the most frequent and severe delays in world among the major global airports. You actually have a more than 50% chance of a delay or worse. I know it's a gamble, but this is how it often works.
4. If the person changes flights from an overseas flight to Guangzhou in Beijing, consider routing them via Hong Kong. The flights are more reliable and it might solve the problem completely. They can either take a (very short) connecting flight to Guangzhou or the train.