Chinese carriers are throwing every available aircraft into the skies to meet Golden Week demand. China Eastern Airlines says it will operate more than 3,200 flights on 1 October alone—423 of them international—moving an estimated 490,000 passengers. Shanghai’s two airports will shoulder the lion’s share, with Pudong handling nearly 700 movements and 110,000 travellers in a single day. Other airlines are following suit. China Southern will run 214 flights in and out of Shanghai, including 10 international services, carrying almost 40,000 passengers. The carrier reports that many Japan and South-Korea routes are already near capacity, reflecting revived leisure and short-term business travel. The capacity surge is pushing up prices. According to Flight Manager data, the average domestic economy-class fare (tax included) during this year’s holiday has risen to ¥930—a year-on-year jump of 11.2 percent—while bare fares are up 6 percent. International sectors from Shanghai to Madrid, Barcelona and Milan are witnessing similar spikes, suggesting pent-up demand despite lingering economic headwinds. For corporate mobility planners the implication is clear: last-minute bookings will be costly and scarce. Companies should secure flexible tickets well in advance, factor higher airfare budgets into Q4 forecasts and remind travelling staff to monitor airport health-declaration requirements, which vary by destination. On the infrastructure side, Shanghai Airport Authority expects combined traffic at Pudong and Hongqiao to reach 3 million passengers over the week, up 5.5 percent year-on-year. That rebound further cements the city’s status as mainland China’s primary international gateway.
Source: Beijing News
