Flag carrier Air China will operate more than 70,000 flights during the 40-day Chunyun travel period that begins on 10 February, an increase of 10.1 percent over 2025, Xinhua reported on 3 February. Although the bulk of additional capacity targets domestic trunk routes, the airline confirmed wide-body up-gauges on services to Frankfurt, Sydney and Vancouver to accommodate pent-up outbound demand.
Nine domestically built C919 aircraft will be deployed on busy corridors linking Beijing with Hangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan and Xi’an, showcasing China’s home-grown narrow-body jet to both domestic and foreign passengers. Air China also pledged that 60 percent of its departures would offer mobile boarding passes and facial-recognition gates, reducing boarding times for travellers unfamiliar with local language apps.
![Air China Plans 70,000 Flights for Spring Festival, Boosts International Seats]()
For corporate mobility managers the extra seats provide a buffer against the seasonal fare spikes that traditionally accompany the world’s largest annual migration. Forward-booking data indicate that average international fares ex-China are still about 20 percent above 2019 levels; analysts expect the added capacity to shave 4-6 percent off peak-season prices.
Cargo divisions are also gearing up: Air China Cargo will dedicate additional Boeing 777F freighters to e-commerce lanes out of Shenzhen and Hangzhou, ensuring supply-chain continuity for manufacturers that maintain production through the holiday.
Nine domestically built C919 aircraft will be deployed on busy corridors linking Beijing with Hangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan and Xi’an, showcasing China’s home-grown narrow-body jet to both domestic and foreign passengers. Air China also pledged that 60 percent of its departures would offer mobile boarding passes and facial-recognition gates, reducing boarding times for travellers unfamiliar with local language apps.
For corporate mobility managers the extra seats provide a buffer against the seasonal fare spikes that traditionally accompany the world’s largest annual migration. Forward-booking data indicate that average international fares ex-China are still about 20 percent above 2019 levels; analysts expect the added capacity to shave 4-6 percent off peak-season prices.
Cargo divisions are also gearing up: Air China Cargo will dedicate additional Boeing 777F freighters to e-commerce lanes out of Shenzhen and Hangzhou, ensuring supply-chain continuity for manufacturers that maintain production through the holiday.
Source: People’s Daily Online / Xinhua
