[Source/Observer Network Wang Yong Editor/Zhao Qiankun]
According to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration recently, as of now, international passenger flights operated by Chinese and foreign airlines have reached an average of 6,428 weekly, a year-on-year increase of 25.4%. Among them, Chinese airlines operate 4,470 flights, up 31.4% year-on-year; foreign airlines operate 1,958 flights, up 13.6% year-on-year.
Data shows that the share of flights between China and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative has steadily increased, currently accounting for about 72% of total flights. Additionally, this year, China's international route network has continued to improve, with the number of countries connected reaching 79, further enhancing the accessibility of international flights.
As China's international route network continues to expand, during the "May Day" holiday, inbound tourists reached 1.115 million, up 43.1% year-on-year. The number of international routes has been rising steadily this year, with five new countries added in the first four months, allowing "Special Forces of International Travel" from 79 countries to "airlift" directly into China.
China Eastern Airlines flight / Travel & Tourism World
According to a report on May 14 by the international tourism industry media Travel & Tourism World, China Eastern Airlines will strengthen its expansion of the international route map this summer, opening six new air corridors across Europe and Asia, including three entirely new destinations: Istanbul, Paris, and Almaty. This strategic layout will significantly enhance air connectivity between China and core cities in Europe and Central Asia.
A recent report by U.S. magazine Aviation Week stated that China Eastern Airlines is deepening its air traffic network in Europe and Central Asia. The airline will launch direct services between Xi'an and Istanbul airports starting June 30, operating three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. China Southern Airlines operates flights between Istanbul and Beijing Daxing, Guangzhou, and Urumqi; Air China and Sichuan Airlines fly from Beijing Capital and Chengdu to Istanbul respectively. Turkish Airlines operates flights from Istanbul to Beijing Capital, Guangzhou, and Shanghai Pudong. Overall, there are approximately 26,200 round-trip seats between Istanbul and China each week, up 7% year-on-year. These route expansions will significantly enhance the influence of Chinese airlines in connecting key aviation hubs in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In addition, the service between East China Airlines' Shanghai Pudong and Geneva will begin on June 16, operating four times per week. Starting June 20, daily flights will serve Milan Malpensa. The third route to Copenhagen Kastrup Airport will commence on July 17, operating three times per week. On July 9, China Eastern Airlines will also launch a Nanjing-Paris route, operating one flight per week on Wednesdays.
Malaysia's Star Newspaper reported on May 12 that East China Airlines will extend its European network to 15 cities within the next few months, with its European route recovery rate reaching 112%. This expansion will further solidify its position as a major player in the China-Europe aviation market and inject momentum into reshaping the global aviation landscape.
The report mentioned that Chinese airlines such as China Eastern Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, and Spring Airlines are expanding their international routes. These airlines have successively opened or increased direct flights to destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Penang, Malaysia, Pokhara, Nepal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jeju Island, South Korea, Chiang Mai, Thailand, etc., indicating a robust recovery of China's aviation industry.
Information indicates that Air China will focus on launching routes to Cairo and Toronto during the 2025 summer-autumn season, open new routes to Vladivostok and Irkutsk, and operate the first Seoul route at Daxing Airport. It will also resume routes to Tokyo (Narita) and Paris from Chengdu.
Juneyao Airlines flight / Juneyao Airlines
Juneyao Airlines implemented its 2025 summer-autumn schedule starting March 30, optimizing existing networks while adding and increasing multiple domestic and international routes. It is further advancing its "internationalization" strategy and supporting the construction of Shanghai's international shipping center. After the schedule change, the proportion of international flights accounts for nearly 40%. On March 30, it opened routes between Chengdu Tianfu-Nanjing, Osaka Kansai (round trip), on April 18 it opened Shanghai Pudong-Kobe (round trip), and on April 19 it opened Nanjing-Kobe (round trip).
Meanwhile, Juneyao Airlines will also operate return flights between Changsha, Nanjing, and Beijing Daxing to Osaka in June, Nanjing-Muang and Jeju return flights, Sanya-Ulaanbaatar return flights, Zhengzhou-Milan return flights, as well as Shanghai Pudong-Vladivostok, Kuala Lumpur, Jeju, Phuket, Helsinki, Athens, Brussels, Manchester, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi return flights. Among these, the new routes include Shanghai Pudong-Kuala Lumpur, Vladivostok, and Changsha-Osaka, while the additional flights include Shanghai Pudong-Penang.
Hainan Airlines has already launched international and regional routes from Haikou, including routes to Seattle, London, Moscow, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Vientiane, Seoul, Tokyo (Narita), and Osaka. This has established an international and regional route network radiating from Hainan to America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. Among these, the Haikou-London route operates one round-trip flight per week.
The Star Newspaper's report mentioned that as Chinese airlines continue to expand their international route coverage and with China's friendly entry policies, the number of foreign tourists visiting China has been steadily increasing.
In addition, apart from major airports and airlines in China restoring or adding international routes, regional airports are also seeing an increase in international routes. For example, Dali Airport operates往返 flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Huangshan Airport operates往返 flights to Busan, South Korea, and Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport has newly launched direct flights to Penang and Sabah in Malaysia.
According to a report on May 14 by the international tourism industry media Travel & Tourism World, China's major airlines (including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China) have updated their plans for 2025. It is expected that these airlines' new long-haul flights will surge, especially those flying to Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America. At the same time, airport expansions in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are accelerating to accommodate expected peak passenger flows.
The report mentioned that China is the world's largest tourism consumption market. With the continuous rise of travel trends and the stabilization of bilateral trade, stakeholders in the global tourism industry are paying attention to the Chinese market. The United States is no exception. Local tourism bureaus have been waiting for Chinese airlines to restore or add routes. Cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Boston are now planning to intensify marketing efforts towards the Chinese market, hoping to tailor new travel activities for Chinese travelers. Meanwhile, chain hotels, travel operators, and luxury retailers in the United States are preparing for the influx of Chinese travelers.
India's Aviation A2Z website reported that United Airlines (UA) announced the restoration or addition of six round-trip routes to China during the 2025-2026 winter-spring season. The new routes cover destinations such as Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong, and Chengdu. These flights will significantly enhance air connectivity between China and the United States.
The report mentioned that United Airlines' large-scale route expansion demonstrates its determination to compete in the trans-Pacific market. These routes, which are being resumed after many years, will provide more options for travelers between China and the United States and strengthen its network layout in the Asian market. However, there are some uncertainties, and the final execution plan may be adjusted.
The report also mentioned that all flights between Chicago and Beijing, Shanghai operated by United Airlines, as well as Newark and Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are currently available for booking.
According to a report by the UK's Travel Review, as the inbound and outbound tourism market in China continues to heat up, the continuous expansion of the international route network provides more travel options for global travelers. Under the impetus of favorable policies such as visa facilitation, cross-border tourism in China has shown vigorous development this year. More and more foreign tourists are choosing to explore China deeply—they are no longer satisfied with simple transit stays but are embarking on immersive travel experiences, traveling between different cities to enjoy natural scenery and experience diverse cultures.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505259826700878363/
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