CCTV News: Recently, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and other airlines released January performance data. The reporter found that the passenger capacity investment and passenger turnover of many airlines showed double-digit growth year-on-year, and international routes also performed outstandingly.
Specifically, Air China and its subsidiaries increased by 10% year-on-year in January, and passenger turnover increased by 12.1% year-on-year; China Eastern Airlines' passenger capacity in January increased by 11.89% year-on-year, and passenger turnover increased by 19.71% year-on-year; China Southern Airlines and its subsidiaries increased by 12.47% year-on-year, and passenger turnover increased by 17.67% year-on-year. Hainan Airlines, Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines also performed well in many indicators in January.
Zhong Shan, chief economist at the Institute of Air Transportation, Academy of Aeronautics Sciences, said that there are two main reasons. From a domestic perspective, driven by factors such as the traditional Spring Festival peak season, the demand for visiting relatives, returning home, and travel has increased significantly, and most airlines have increased capacity supply for strong demand routes. Internationally, many airlines are actively expanding the international market and opening multiple new international routes, and market capacity investment continues to increase and recovery level gradually increases.
Data disclosed by airlines show that in January 2025, the passenger turnover of international routes increased the highest year-on-year, followed by regional routes, and domestic routes grew by a small increase.
As many airlines opened international and regional routes in January, factors such as increased capacity investment, visa-free and visa facilitation have stimulated more residents' enthusiasm for outbound travel.
