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Aviation
BusinessChina Business

Golden week: record number of Chinese travellers planning domestic trips tempted by cheap airline fares, overseas curbs

  • The total number of domestic flight trips made between October 1 and 8 will reach more than 15 million, a 10 per cent jump from last year, according to Qunar
  • Airfares remain 10 per cent lower than that in 2019, helping to stimulate travel demand but could hit airlines’ bottom line, say experts

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A woman wearing a face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus browses her smartphone at the Beijing Capital International Airport, on September 8, 2020. Photo: AP Photo
Iris Ouyang

China’s domestic air traffic volume is expected to reach a record high during the upcoming “golden week” holiday, as lower ticket prices and curbs on international travel because of the coronavirus pandemic spur travel-hungry mainlanders to seek out local tourist destinations.

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The total number of domestic flight trips made between October 1 and 8 will reach more than 15 million, a 10 per cent increase from last year, according to data from online travel booking website Qunar, noting the added volume of mainlanders who would have travelled overseas has boosted demand.

But average airfares based on pre-bookings for the same period declined 10 per cent compared with a year ago to 895.55 yuan (US$132), the lowest in five years, said Qunar, owned by China’s largest online travel booking firm Ctrip.

“Ticket price is at a low level due to discounts amid oversupply,” said Lin Zhijie, an expert at the official Aviation Think Tank. “In previous years, it was full price or at most less than 20 per cent discount. The lower price stimulates travel demand, but puts pressure on the balance sheets of airlines as overall revenue declines.”

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Chinese airlines offer unlimited flights to coax travellers back as Covid-19 crisis is under control

Chinese airlines offer unlimited flights to coax travellers back as Covid-19 crisis is under control
This year’s holiday, which follows the National Day and also includes the Mid-Autumn Festival, comes as the Covid-19 pandemic in the country is largely under control. The capacity of major tourism attractions have been gradually expanded over the past few months, giving China’s tourism sector a much-needed respite. China’s domestic tourism grew 11.7 per cent year on year in 2019, generating revenues of 5.73 trillion yuan.
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Chinese carriers in recent months have engaged in a fierce competition for customers, launching various “fly-at-will” unlimited flight packages. Their seat capacity on domestic routes has increased considerably as carriers deploy widebody aircraft used on long-haul international routes while demand has fallen as fewer passengers are flying because of the pandemic.
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