China travel: how many international flights will be approved this year?
- China is now offering hundreds of international flights per week – a fraction of pre-pandemic totals – as ‘multiple factors’ stand in the way of full service
- Authorities vow to expedite visas for foreign businesses, while saying that ‘necessary’ measures will be taken if other countries restrict Chinese travellers
International flights in China will climb back to 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year if the market recovers and foreign businesses receive the promised expedited visas and customs processes to ease their concerns as China reopens, according to authorities.
Additionally, the nation’s transport director said that China will “take necessary corresponding measures” in response to countries imposing restrictions on Chinese travellers.
Chinese airlines resumed international passenger flights from Sunday amid the country’s reopening drive, and official figures put the number of flights for this week at 563 – or about 6 per cent of the pre-pandemic total.
Operators are also applying for flight plan approvals, and authorities said that nearly 40 airlines have submitted requests for around 700 flights per week – involving 34 countries – through early February.
The pace of the recovery of the international aviation sector is likely to pick up in the second half of the year
“The resumption of international flights by airlines is affected by multiple factors such as market demand, capacity arrangements, time coordination, and approval by Chinese and foreign civil aviation authorities,” said Liang Nan, the director of the Department of Transport under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
