Chinese airlines are preparing to expand their international routes for the upcoming winter and spring flight schedules. The new flight plans, set to begin on Sunday, mark an effort to meet rising market demands and cater to a surge in international travel. Multiple airlines, including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Saudi Arabian Airlines, are introducing new routes and increasing their flight frequencies. The expansion is expected to positively impact not only the Chinese aviation market but also the global travel industry as a whole.
New Routes from Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport, one of China’s key aviation hubs, recently announced that several airlines operating from the airport will add new international routes in the coming months. Starting Monday, Saudi Arabian Airlines will introduce a new route from Beijing Daxing to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Singapore Airlines will begin a route from Daxing to Singapore on November 11, operating one round trip per day. These changes signal a growing focus on connecting China to destinations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines is scheduled to launch new flights from Beijing Daxing to Sydney and Melbourne in December. This move is seen as part of the airline’s broader strategy to cater to increasing demand from Chinese tourists and business travelers heading to Australia. Royal Air Maroc, the Moroccan national carrier, is also planning to resume its Daxing-Casablanca route in January 2025. This route will operate three times per week, further enhancing China’s connectivity to North Africa.
Key flight expansions from Beijing Daxing:
New Daxing to Dammam route by Saudi Arabian Airlines
Daxing to Singapore route by Singapore Airlines (from Nov 11)
Daxing to Sydney and Melbourne by China Southern Airlines (from Dec)
Daxing to Casablanca route resumed by Royal Air Maroc (from Jan 2025)
Increased International Flight Capacity During Winter-Spring Season
Beijing Daxing Airport has forecasted that during the upcoming winter and spring flight seasons, which will run until March 29, 2025, an average of 978 flights will be scheduled per day. Of these, 72 will be international routes, reflecting the growing emphasis on overseas travel. This increase in international flights signals a broader shift towards re-establishing China as a key player in global aviation.
In line with this trend, China Eastern Airlines announced plans to further increase its international routes. New connections, such as the Wuhan-Osaka and Qingdao-Fukuoka routes, will contribute to expanding China’s connectivity to Japan. China Eastern’s strategy also includes increased flight volumes to major international destinations, including Heathrow, Sydney, and Melbourne, from its hub at Shanghai Pudong. According to the airline, its current flight volume to regions like Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia has already surpassed 2019 levels, showing a strong recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
China Eastern is planning an average of 1,373 international flights per week for the winter-spring season, marking a 24.68% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This number also represents a 102% increase compared to the same period in 2019, indicating a significant boost in China’s international flight capacity.
Factors Driving Expansion: Visa-Free Transit and Rising Demand
Several factors are contributing to the aggressive expansion of overseas routes by Chinese airlines. A key driver is the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which has been instrumental in attracting more international visitors to China. This policy allows travelers from eligible countries to enter certain Chinese cities without a visa for up to 144 hours, provided they are transiting to a third country. Experts have pointed out that this visa-free policy is playing a crucial role in boosting inbound tourism and facilitating smoother international travel.
According to data from the National Immigration Administration, China recorded 160 million inbound and outbound trips in the first three quarters of this year, representing a 30.1% year-on-year increase. Of these, 16.46 million trips were made by foreign individuals, underscoring the growing global interest in visiting China. The rising number of international visitors is likely to further support the expanded flight routes being planned by Chinese airlines.
Cathay Pacific’s New In-Flight Experience
In addition to the expansion of flight routes, airlines are also enhancing their in-flight services. Starting this month, Cathay Pacific launched a new in-flight experience aboard its retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The updated cabin features an all-new business class called the Aria Suite, along with a refreshed premium economy and economy class cabin.
Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific’s general manager of customer experience and design, mentioned that the Aria Suite will initially be deployed on routes to mainland Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai. This revamped in-flight offering is part of Cathay Pacific’s broader effort to enhance passenger comfort and appeal to both business and leisure travelers in China.
Global Impact of China’s Route Expansion
The expansion of China’s international flight routes has broad implications for the global travel industry. As Chinese airlines increase their overseas connectivity, international travelers will benefit from a greater number of flight options, potentially driving down prices and increasing competition among airlines. The increased frequency of flights to destinations like Sydney, Melbourne, and London will make travel between China and these regions more accessible and convenient, further stimulating tourism and business exchanges.
Moreover, the rising number of international visitors to China, spurred by the 144-hour visa-free policy, is likely to have a ripple effect on global tourism patterns. With more people visiting China, travel flows between China and key regions such as Europe, Oceania, and Southeast Asia are expected to grow. This will have a positive impact on airlines, airports, and related industries around the world.
For the travel industry, the increasing demand for international flights from China also signals a potential recovery in global tourism, which has struggled to regain pre-pandemic levels. The Chinese market, in particular, is poised to be a major player in the recovery of international travel, and the expansion of overseas routes by Chinese airlines is a clear indicator of this trend.
Source:https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/china-southern-china-eastern-and-cathay-pacific-expand-new-flights-to-sydney-singapore-and-beijing-daxing-starting-this-winter/
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