The 62-day summer travel season for civil aviation ended on August 31.

Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China shows that during the summer travel season in July and August, the national civil aviation system transported a total of 151 million passengers, with an average of 2.442 million passengers per day, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.9%.

During the summer travel season, some new changes are taking place, from seeking coolness in the mountains and the sea to a two-way surge in the inbound and outbound markets; from more and more people taking flights for the first time to more meticulous and thoughtful service guarantees.

According to data from Flightradar24, cities such as Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai are among the top domestic destinations for summer air travel, with summer vacations driving rapid growth in passenger traffic in many tourist cities: Zhangjiakou and Liupanshui saw year-on-year increases in air passenger volume of approximately 170% and 70%, respectively…

Airline route data also confirms the summer travel boom. During the summer travel season, China Southern Airlines' routes from Beijing Daxing to Yining and Guangzhou to Hailar were particularly popular with passengers; Capital Airlines' routes from Xi'an to Dali had an average load factor of over 97%; and China Eastern Airlines' Shanghai to Urumqi route saw a 51% year-on-year increase in flight volume.

The surge in passenger traffic to more destinations has made the air network even busier. During the summer travel season, China Southern Airlines operated more than 200,000 passenger flights, transporting more than 33.98 million passengers; Hainan Airlines operated more than 152,000 passenger flights, transporting 21.55 million passengers, setting a new record for the same period.

The international and regional civil aviation markets are also continuing to recover. During the summer travel season, Hainan Airlines Group operated more than 5,800 international and regional passenger flights, transporting 1.115 million passengers, of which foreign passengers accounted for more than 30%.

With passenger traffic continuing to grow and travelers' travel needs becoming more diverse, civil aviation services have become more meticulous and considerate.

During the summer travel season, many passengers have spotted airport staff traveling with children in the terminal. Since July, China Southern Airlines has carried over 120,000 unaccompanied minors, including 38,000 at the Guangzhou hub, representing a 20% year-on-year increase.

At Shanghai Pudong Airport, a newly opened "Slow Service Zone" offers senior passengers free wheelchair rentals, handwritten note guidance, and other special services. A baby-friendly space of over 110 square meters adds convenience for families traveling together.

The diverse travel needs of passengers have given rise to more diverse service scenarios. During the summer travel season, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport opened a dedicated waiting hall and security checkpoint for pets. China Southern Airlines Beijing Branch facilitated more than 400 pets to "enter the cabin" to accompany their owners, an increase of more than 145% year-on-year.

The summer travel season has ended, but air travel remains popular.

According to data from TravelSky, from September 1st to 15th, domestic flight bookings exceeded 13.45 million, showing a steady increase compared to the same period last year; international flight bookings exceeded 3 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 4%.

A relevant official from the Civil Aviation Administration of China stated that the administration will continue to strengthen the foundation of aviation safety, further expand the domestic transportation market, proactively serve high-level opening-up, continuously improve air logistics capabilities, and strive to promote quality and efficiency improvement in the industry. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)