China’s Summer Travel Season Sees Record High Passenger Numbers, Regional Airlines Thrive
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (CNS) – China’s summer travel season, known as Shuyun, from July 1 to August 31, has come to an end, with multiple airlines reportingrecord-breaking passenger numbers. According to data released by China Southern Airlines on Tuesday, the group transported over 29.5 million passengers during the period,averaging over 470,000 passengers per day. The airline also operated nearly 16,000 international and regional passenger flights, carrying over 2.8 million international passengers.
Notably, routes to theMiddle East and other regions saw significant growth, with China Southern Airlines deploying more flights than in the same period of 2019. Capacity and passenger volume on routes from China to Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and otherdestinations have already surpassed 2019 levels.
China Eastern Airlines and its subsidiaries also reported strong performance, operating 189,500 flights and serving 26.76 million passengers during the summer travel season. The group executed 24,600 international and regional flights,transporting 3.95 million passengers, representing an increase of 2.1% and 8.1% respectively compared to the same period in 2019.
Data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) also indicates a record-high passenger volume during this summer’stravel season. The country’s airlines transported a total of 140 million passengers, averaging 2.289 million passengers per day, marking a 17.7% increase compared to 2019 and a 12.3% increase compared to 2023.
The average passenger load factor during the summer travel season reached 83.9%, a 2.6 percentage point increase compared to 2023. A total of 1.157 million flights were operated, averaging 18,660 flights per day, an 8.2% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The robust performance of China’s domestic aviation network was evident, with major airports like Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen Bao’an, and Chengdu Tianfu experiencing high passenger traffic. The growth of regional airlines wasparticularly noteworthy, indicating a surge in demand for travel to secondary and tertiary cities.
A summary report on the summer travel season by travel platform Hanglvzongheng highlights the increased connectivity of regional airports compared to previous years. The report indicates significant growth potential in the markets of second and third-tier cities.
The strong performance of China’s aviation sector during the summer travel season reflects the country’s economic recovery and the growing demand for travel among its citizens. The surge in regional airline activity suggests a shift in travel patterns, with more people exploring destinations beyond major cities. This trend is likely to continue as China’seconomy continues to grow and its middle class expands.
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