China expects 80 mln air passenger trips during coming Spring Festival travel rush

(ECNS) -- China’s civil aviation is predicted to handle 80 million passenger trips during the coming Spring Festival travel rush, with an average of 2 million per day, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Monday.

The 2024 Spring Festival travel rush will last for 40 days, beginning on Jan. 26 and ending on March 5, said Liang Nan, an official with the administration.

This represents a 9.8 percent increase compared to the 2019 Spring Festival travel rush and a 44.9 percent increase from 2023, potentially to reach a historic high, Liang said.

The travel volume is expected to peak on Feb. 8, Feb. 16, Feb. 20, and Feb. 25, respectively, said Liang.

The outbound tourism market will see a short-term peak during the Spring Festival travel rush. Countries and regions such as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia will become popular travel destinations.

During this period, there will also be an increase in demand for international family visits and studying abroad, according to the administration.

Liang added the sector will handle about 16,500 flights per day on average during the travel rush. This is roughly the same as in 2019 and represents a 24 percent increase compared to 2023.