The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) reported on Sunday that Chinese airlines carried 34 percent more international passengers in the first quarter of this year, underscoring the expansion of the international aviation network driven by surging demand.
A Chinese aviation expert attributed this remarkable growth to the swift recovery of China’s aviation sector and the government’s proactive policies that have facilitated greater personnel exchanges.
According to Shang Kejia, an official from the CAAC, Chinese airlines transported a total of 18.925 million international passengers in the first quarter, marking a year-on-year increase of 34 percent and a 4.5 percent rise compared to the same period in 2019. This data was unveiled at the CAAC’s monthly press conference.
Notably, passenger traffic from China to Africa surged by 241 percent, followed by a 233 percent increase to Central Asia and a 91 percent rise to West Asia. Currently, 28 Chinese airlines and 100 foreign carriers are operating international passenger routes to a total of 78 countries, marking a net increase of four countries compared to 2019.
“The international route network continued to expand in the first quarter, with both the number of international flights and passengers showing further growth,” Shang noted.
Luo Chengtao, chief analyst at industry information provider VariFlight, told the Global Times on Sunday that the data reflects a rapid recovery and structural optimization of China’s international aviation market. “China’s international aviation market has transitioned from restorative growth to structural upgrading,” he said.
Lin Zhijie, an independent market observer, also commented on Sunday that the swift recovery of Chinese airlines’ global networks demonstrates the resilience of the industry.
Meanwhile, China has been making significant strides in its unilateral visa-free policy, which is seen as a crucial step in its efforts to further integrate into the global economy. Currently, passport holders from 38 countries can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days.
Last year, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in China reached 26.94 million, a year-on-year increase of 96 percent. In the first quarter of this year, inbound foreign tourist arrivals totaled 9.215 million, a year-on-year increase of 40.2 percent, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping announced at the press conference.
In terms of flight volume, Chinese and foreign airlines operated an average of 6,395 international passenger flights per week, which is 83.9 percent of the 2019 level. During the Spring Festival peak, the weekly flight volume reached 6,960, equivalent to 91.3 percent of the 2019 level, the CAAC reported.
Flights from China to 35 countries, including Japan, the UK, and Italy, have already surpassed 2019 levels. Moreover, the proportion of flights restored between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached 94.5 percent, 10.6 percentage points higher than the average.
The route networks between China and traditional markets in Asia and Europe have continued to improve, while routes to Latin America, the South Pacific, and Africa have further expanded, enhancing international flight accessibility, Shang added.
Air China, China’s flagship carrier, announced on Thursday a series of new routes and flight resumptions. It will launch direct flights from Beijing to Cairo, Egypt, and Toronto, Canada; open new routes from Beijing to Vladivostok and Irkutsk in Russia; operate routes from Seoul and Hong Kong at Beijing Daxing International Airport for the first time; and resume flights from Chengdu to Tokyo and Paris.
Additionally, Air China plans to introduce routes from Beijing to Tashkent, from Urumqi to Tashkent, and from Beijing to Almaty, among other Central Asian routes, from June to July, further strengthening connections with BRI countries.
The CAAC stated that it will continue to promote the increase of international passenger flights and encourage airlines to actively expand their route networks in emerging markets.
Lin emphasized the importance of supporting Chinese airlines in resuming and increasing international flights and making it more convenient for foreigners to visit China.
