2025 Chinese New Year travel rush: C919 planes, tourism push

Data snapshot China’s Spring Festival travel season kicked off on Wednesday with authorities projecting a record-breaking 9 billion passenger trips during the 40-day period, marking a significant expansion in both domestic and international travel. Railways are expected to handle 510 million passenger trips through February 22, averaging 12.75 million daily trips, a 5.5% increase from 2024, China Railway reports. Guangzhou South Railway Station alone expects to process 20.17 million passengers, including 10.2 million departing travelers, with peak volumes of 369,000 passengers expected on January 27, according to China Daily. The domestic aviation sector is deploying China’s homegrown C919 aircraft at scale. China Southern Airlines has allocated three C919 jets across four routes linking Guangzhou with Hangzhou, Shanghai, Haikou and Chengdu, according to Xinhua. Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines is operating 10 C919 aircraft, and Air China has expanded to five C919 routes, including a new Beijing-Chongqing service, China Daily reports. International travel is surging as China expands visa-free access. The National Immigration Administration reports that visa-free foreign arrivals more than doubled to 20.12 million in 2024, with foreign tourist bookings for the Spring Festival projected to rise by 203% compared to last year, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. Analysis These developments demonstrate both China’s transportation infrastructure advances and broader economic ambitions. The widespread deployment of domestically produced C919 aircraft serves as a visible symbol of technological progress while supporting the government’s goal of establishing world-class aviation hubs by year-end, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s three-phase strategy. Chinese carriers are simultaneously expanding their European presence, now operating over 84% of China-Europe flights, up from 60% in 2019, according to aviation data platform DAST cited by CNA. On January 13, the State Council unveiled new measures to boost cultural and tourism spending, including targeted initiatives for different demographics. These include enhanced parent-child entertainment services and specialized “silver economy” offerings for elderly travelers. Local authorities are encouraged to offer coupons and reward schemes to stimulate spending. This policy push comes as Chinese airlines aggressively expand international routes. In late 2024, the Civil Aviation Administration approved several new European destinations, including Bucharest, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Geneva. The combination of infrastructure advancement, policy support, and international connectivity suggests China is positioning its travel sector as a key economic driver. However, analysts note challenges remain, including uncertain global trade conditions and competitive pressures in international markets. The Jing Daily Data Snapshot analyzes the latest data on China’s luxury and lifestyle markets.

China’s CNY travel season kicks off with 9B trips projected

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China’s CNY travel season kicks off with 9B trips projected