China’s international air transport sector has demonstrated a robust recovery in the first quarter of 2025, as flight numbers and passenger volumes continue to climb, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Key Recovery Metrics
Flight Frequency: During the first quarter, Chinese and foreign airlines operated an average of 6,395 international passenger flights per week, reaching 83.9% of the pre-pandemic flight levels from 2019. The peak came during the Spring Festival travel rush, where weekly flights soared to 6,960, representing 91.3% of 2019 levels.
Flight Recovery by Region: Flights between China and 35 countries, including major destinations like Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy, have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, routes to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have recovered to 94.5% of their 2019 levels, outpacing the overall recovery.
Passenger Volume Growth: Passenger traffic has shown significant growth, with Chinese airlines transporting 18.93 million international travelers in Q1 2025, a 34% increase from the previous year. Notably, this represents a 4.5% increase compared to the same period in 2019.
Regional Growth: Traffic to Northeast Asia grew by 20%, while regions like West Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa saw impressive growth rates: 91%, 233%, 71%, and 241%, respectively, compared to 2019.
This recovery highlights the resilience of China’s international aviation market and indicates a steady return to global travel, especially as international routes continue to expand and improve. The recovery trend suggests that China’s air transport sector is well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic operational levels.
