China is set to expand its international flight network for the upcoming winter-spring season, a move driven by increasing demand for cross-border travel and inbound tourism. The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced that, from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, there will be 16,654 international passenger flights per week connecting China with 84 countries.
This expansion sees a significant increase in flight frequencies across various regions, including Central Asia, South Asia, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Notably, services between China and 17 countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, Canada, and Belgium, have seen increases of more than 40% compared to the previous year.
In addition to boosting flight numbers, Chinese airlines are adding new destinations to their routes. Iceland, Madagascar, and Jordan are among the eight new destinations added to China’s international aviation network. This expansion is a response to the growing travel demand to and from China, with flight services to 15 major inbound tourism markets, including Singapore and Malaysia, increasing by 14.4% year-on-year.
Major Chinese airlines are playing a crucial role in this expansion. Air China is introducing new services connecting Beijing with Reykjavik via Copenhagen, and increasing routes to Bali and Hanoi. China Southern Airlines is expanding its services to destinations like Jeju Island and Langkawi, while also increasing flights to Australia and New Zealand.
Beijing’s airports are also scaling up their operations. Beijing Capital International Airport will have an average of 252 international and regional passenger flights per day during the new season. Meanwhile, Beijing Daxing International Airport plans to serve 44 international and regional destinations.
Domestically, Chinese airlines are launching 288 new routes that connect smaller cities and regional hubs with major economic centers. This includes increased bookings for winter tourism destinations like Yanji in Jilin province and Altay in Xinjiang.
Overall, 216 Chinese and international airlines aim to operate approximately 116,000 passenger and cargo flights weekly during the winter-spring season. The latest schedule revision, a biannual practice, supports China’s goal of enhancing tourism, business travel, and international connectivity.