Spring Festival travel rush kicks off, sets records in aviation sector

The Spring Festival travel rush, the world's largest annual human migration, began Tuesday with projections of more than 90 million air passenger trips, setting a new record. Airlines and airports have ramped up preparations to better serve international passengers and outbound Chinese travelers.

The 40-day travel rush, concluding Feb. 22, is expected to break passenger volume records in China's aviation sector. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) estimates daily passenger trips will exceed 2.25 million, supported by an average of 18,500 flights per day, an 8.4% increase from last year.

On Tuesday alone, 18,354 flights were scheduled, accommodating an anticipated 2.04 million passenger trips. Routes between major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu remain in high demand, according to the CAAC.

Beijing's airports are key to managing the surge in traffic. The CAAC North China Regional Administration said Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport are expected to handle 92,000 flights during the travel rush, up 21 percent from last year. Peak travel days at both airports are projected to begin Jan. 24, with daily inbound and outbound flights surpassing 2,300.

Beijing Capital is forecast to handle 7.95 million passenger trips during the season, averaging 199,000 per day. On Tuesday, the airport was set to manage 199,000 trips.

Daxing Airport expects 37,600 flights, a 5.6 percent increase from 2024, and plans to handle 6.1 million passenger trips, averaging 150,000 daily. Popular international destinations from Daxing include Russia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Qatar, and the United Kingdom. The airport operates nearly 70 international routes connecting 42 cities across 26 countries and regions, including major tourist spots like London, Osaka, Bangkok, and Singapore.

To enhance the experience for international passengers, both Beijing airports have set up dedicated counters in arrival zones offering services such as SIM card purchases and free half-day tour consultations.

Airlines are also increasing capacity to meet demand. Air China plans to operate over 70,000 flights during the travel period, a 9.5% increase from 2024. The airline is adding 3,400 flights to key domestic and international routes, including popular destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.