An airplane flies high in the sky. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

As the summer season unfolds, international air travel is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, with airlines witnessing a significant rebound in passenger flow. In some instances, specific flight routes are surpassing pre-pandemic flight numbers.

European destinations are at the forefront of this positive trend. Juneyao Airlines recently announced the introduction of new direct routes from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Manchester and Brussels. Commencing in July, each route will operate three flights per week, reflecting a growing confidence in air travel revival.

Air China is also poised to make a strong comeback, with plans to operate 201 daily international flights during the summer-autumn season. This capacity exceeds 84 percent of their 2019 figures, signaling a robust recovery in international air travel.

China Eastern Airlines has reported promising progress as well, scheduling over 1,240 international flights per week, reaching an impressive 90.8 percent of their 2019 total. Noteworthy increases in flights to Europe, Oceania, and the Middle East have even surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with routes to Hungary, Spain, Dubai, and Malaysia doubling compared to the pre-pandemic period.

According to Flight Master, an independent booking platform, international travel for the 2024 summer season is projected to achieve approximately 80 percent of 2019 levels. Southeast and East Asia remain popular destinations for Chinese travelers, constituting 76.2 percent of flights. Niche markets like West Asia, Central Asia, and Africa are anticipated to surpass 2019 numbers, while North America lags behind with only 20 percent of 2019 flight capacity planned.

VariFlight, a flight data provider, corroborates this upward trajectory, indicating that China's airlines operated 37,600 international and regional passenger flights in June. This figure represents a substantial 70 percent increase compared to 2023, reaching 71 percent of 2019 levels.

Of particular note is the shift in the most frequented international routes. China-South Korea flights have now surpassed China-Japan routes as the most common international route. China-South Korea flights are now operating at 80 percent of their 2019 levels, while China-Japan flights have exceeded 70 percent. Additionally, China-Singapore flights are 3 percent higher than 2019 statistics, and China-Malaysia flights have surged past 90 percent of their pre-pandemic numbers.

Cheng Xi, the general manager of business at Juneyao Airlines, expressed optimism about the future, saying, "With the launch of these two new European routes, our total number of European routes will reach five, surpassing our pre-pandemic international flight coverage.

Source: Shanghai Observer