China is significantly expanding its international flight network to accommodate a surge in cross-border travel and inbound tourism, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The new aviation schedule, effective from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, will see 16,654 international passenger flights per week connecting China with 84 countries.
This expansion marks a notable increase in flight frequencies across several regions, including Central Asia, South Asia, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Notably, flight services between China and 17 countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, Canada, and Belgium, have recorded increases of more than 40% compared to the previous year.
In addition to increased frequencies, airlines are introducing new routes to destinations like Iceland, Madagascar, and Jordan, further broadening China’s international aviation network. Major Chinese carriers like Air China and China Southern Airlines are also enhancing their services. Air China is adding routes connecting Beijing with Reykjavik via Copenhagen, as well as flights to Bali and Hanoi. Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines is expanding its offerings to destinations such as Jeju Island and Langkawi, and increasing flights to Australia and New Zealand.
Beijing’s airports are responding to the increased demand as well. Beijing Capital International Airport is boosting its international and regional operations with an average of 252 passenger flights scheduled daily during the new season. Beijing Daxing International Airport plans to serve 44 international and regional destinations.
Domestic air travel is also seeing growth, with airlines introducing 288 new routes connecting smaller cities and regional destinations with major economic centers. Popular winter tourism spots like Yanji in Jilin province and Altay in Xinjiang are experiencing rising flight bookings.
Overall, 216 Chinese and international airlines aim to operate approximately 116,000 passenger and cargo flights weekly during the winter-spring season. This expansion aligns with China’s strategy to revise airline schedules biannually to meet seasonal travel demands, optimize operations, and enhance both domestic and international connectivity, thereby supporting tourism and business travel.
