China is ramping up its international air services for the winter-spring season, significantly increasing flight frequencies and launching new routes to accommodate the surge in cross-border travel and tourism. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the updated schedule, effective from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, will feature 16,654 international passenger flights weekly, linking China with 84 countries.
The expansion sees a marked increase in flight frequencies across several regions, such as Central Asia, South Asia, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Notably, services to 17 countries, including India, Kazakhstan, Canada, and Belgium, have surged by over 40 percent compared to the previous year.
To further bolster its international aviation network, China has introduced scheduled passenger services to new destinations such as Iceland, Madagascar, and Jordan. This expansion reflects the growing demand for travel to and from China, with services connecting to 15 major inbound tourism markets, including Singapore and Malaysia, rising by 14.4 percent year-on-year.
Major Chinese airlines are actively expanding their international routes. Air China is adding flights between Beijing and Reykjavik via Copenhagen, as well as new routes to Bali and Hanoi. Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines is increasing its services to Jeju Island and Langkawi and boosting flights to Australia and New Zealand.
Beijing Capital International Airport is enhancing its international and regional operations, with an average of 252 passenger flights scheduled daily for the new season. Beijing Daxing International Airport aims to serve 44 international and regional destinations.
Domestic air travel is also seeing growth, with airlines launching 288 new routes that connect smaller cities and regional destinations with major economic centers. This includes winter tourism hotspots like Yanji in Jilin province and Altay in Xinjiang, which are experiencing a rise in flight bookings.
Overall, 216 Chinese and international airlines plan to operate around 116,000 passenger and cargo flights weekly during this period. China’s biannual revision of airline schedules aims to meet seasonal travel demands, optimize flight operations, and strengthen both domestic and international connectivity, thereby supporting tourism, business travel, and broader international exchanges.