China anticipates a record-breaking 700 million air passenger trips
in 2024, surpassing the 619.6 million trips reported in 2023.
Song Zhiyong, head of the Civil Aviation Administration, announced
this projection at the Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety.
According to the State Council, total passenger trips in the first
half of 2024 have increased by 9% compared to the same period in 2019,
indicating a robust recovery in China’s air travel sector from the
pandemic.
The surge in domestic tourism was evident during the Lunar New Year
holidays, with a 47.4% increase in tourism revenues year-on-year,
surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Additionally, international travel has been buoyed by the Paris
Olympic Games, with strong demand for flights to and from Japan, South
Korea, Singapore, and Europe.
The broader Asia-Pacific region’s travel sector has also benefited
from increased Chinese tourist activity, contributing to the region’s
overall growth.