Beijing, July 13, 2024, The Europe Today: China’s aviation industry experienced a substantial increase in passenger trips and freight transport in the first half of 2024, according to the latest data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Passenger Traffic Surge
The CAAC reported nearly 350 million passenger trips from January to June, marking a 23.5 percent increase year on year. Domestic routes accounted for 320 million passenger trips, up 16.4 percent from the same period last year. Notably, international routes saw an impressive surge of 254.4 percent, recording over 29.67 million trips.
Freight Transport Growth
Freight transport in the civil aviation market also saw significant growth, with a volume exceeding 4.17 million tonnes in the first half of the year, representing a 27.4 percent increase year on year. Domestic routes experienced a 23.2 percent rise in freight transport, while international routes saw an even higher increase of 34.3 percent.
Facilitative Measures for Foreign Travelers
Earlier this month, China’s immigration authority announced a notable increase in trips made by foreign travelers in the first half of the year. This surge followed the introduction of measures in January aimed at facilitating the entry of foreign nationals for business, education, and tourism. These measures include expanded visa-free policies, relaxed visa application requirements, and simplified procedures.
Future Outlook
Xu Qing, deputy head of the transport department of CAAC, expressed optimism about the continued growth in the aviation sector. “We expect the main indicators of the civil aviation transportation market to reach new highs this year,” Xu stated at a press conference. He predicted that domestic passenger transport would continue to grow in the second half of the year, and international passenger transport would further recover.
The positive trends in passenger and freight transport indicate a robust recovery and expansion in China’s aviation sector, bolstered by supportive policies and increasing travel demand.
