Chinese carriers see surge in summer domestic traffic

Chinese domestic traffic during the summer period grew above pre-pandemic levels, even as international recovery remains sluggish. According to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Chinese airlines carried around 130m domestic passengers during the July-August period, a 7.4% increase compared to the same period in 2019. The regulator adds that there were over 1m flights mounted during the two-month period, similar to pre-pandemic levels. The CAAC notes that Chinese cities seeing the highest demand includes major metropolises like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. Routes that see high demand include Shenzhen-Shanghai, Guangzhou-Hangzhou, Beijing-Shenzhen, it adds. However, CAAC data shows that the number of international flights remains well below pre-Covid-19 levels. During the July-August period, there were an average of around 1,100 international flights, which is only 44% of 2019 levels. The latest traffic data comes as China’s major operators narrow their operating losses in their half-year earnings. While domestic traffic has largely recovered close to pre-pandemic levels, international traffic has been slower to recover. China in late-2022 reopened its international borders, after it scrapped most of its ‘zero-Covid’ travel restrictions.<br/>