China’s air flights are up 34% from pre-pandemic levels

BEIJING, Oct 28 (Reuters) – China’s aviation regulator said it will increase the number of domestic flights by 34% from pre-pandemic levels, a move that will further support the recovery of Chinese airlines. .

China’s major airlines on Friday reported their first quarterly profits in more than three years, raising the possibility that China’s three largest national carriers may finally emerge from difficulties brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. This sparked expectations in the industry.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China is scheduled to announce its winter and spring flight plans on Sunday, with plans due until March 30, according to a summary of Friday’s press conference posted on the aviation regulator’s CAAC News website. Continue.

The number of domestic flights will be 96,651 per week, an increase of 34% compared to the same period four years ago, and 7,202 new flights will be operated per week with the opening of 516 new domestic routes.

The regulator said the increase in domestic flights will focus on connections between regional and hub airports such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

Although recovery in international flights has been slow, it is starting to regain momentum. It is expected to operate 16,680 weekly flights over the next five months, with passenger flights expected to reach 71% of the total number four years ago.

The number of flights to and from 22 countries, including the UK and Italy, is approaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels, regulators said.

Direct passenger flights between China and the United States are expected to increase from 48 to 70 flights per week from winter to spring, according to a Sunday post on the CAAC News WeChat account.

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