Passengers are set to flood airports across the Chinese mainland during the upcoming May Day holiday, with civil aviation authorities forecasting a record 10.75 million passenger trips over five days—an 8% rise compared with last year’s period. That works out to an unprecedented daily average of 2.15 million flyers, smashing previous benchmarks and underscoring pent-up travel demand.
Industry experts point to rising disposable incomes, lifted travel restrictions and a growing appetite for weekend getaways as the main drivers behind the surge. Major hubs like Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou Baiyun are preparing for peak traffic, while smaller regional airports are scaling up staff and flight rotations to keep queues moving.
Data also shows a complementary boost in rail travel, with high-speed services experiencing a 5% uptick compared with last May Day. Together, air and rail networks are shouldering the bulk of the nation’s spring travel rush, reflecting a broader trend toward multimodal, sustainable tourism.
For digital nomads and travelers on the move, experts recommend booking flights early, exploring off‑peak routes and embracing digital check‑in to save time. As the Chinese mainland’s aviation system faces its busiest stretch yet, the travel industry will be watching closely to see if these record numbers become the new normal.
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Record-breaking air travel expected for China's May Day holiday
cgtn.com
