China expects air passenger numbers to reach a record high of 700 million in 2024, up from the 619.6 million reported in 2023.
Civil Aviation Administration director-general Song Zhiyong made the prediction at the Asia-Pacific Aviation Safety Summit.
Total passenger numbers in the first half of 2024 are expected to increase by 9% compared with the same period in 2019, according to the State Council, indicating that China's air travel sector is recovering strongly from the pandemic.
The surge in domestic tourism was evident during the Lunar New Year holiday, when tourism receipts increased 47.4% year-on-year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Additionally, the Paris Olympics has boosted international travel, increasing demand for flights between Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Europe.
The travel industry across the Asia Pacific region is also benefiting from the increase in Chinese tourists, contributing to overall growth in the region.
