Any return by Chinese airlines will depend on President Xi relaxing his zero Covid strategy and removing quarantine requirements for arriving travellers. Whilst China has recently reduced the requirement to 7 days quarantine followed by a short period of isolation at home there is no indication that the flagship policy will disappear. Hong Kong has brought in a similar reduction (from 21 days, then to 14 and now to 7). Some business travellers and returning residents are the only people likely to accept quarantine as a necessary part of their trip, but inbound tourists certainly won't. The Chinese government are actively discouraging travel abroad by its citizens (passport renewals are on hold, and those departing are questioned at the airport as to whether their travel can be justified as essential). Outbound tourism is not regarded as an essential reason to travel.
So I fear your optimism regarding the return of CX, Air China, and China Eastern in the near term is misplaced.