Flight volumes, airfares up during National Day holiday

China's aviation market recorded growth in both passenger flight volumes and ticket prices during the seven-day National Day holiday, reflecting robust travel activity across domestic and international routes, according to Chinese aviation data provider VariFlight.

Airlines operated a total of 102,900 domestic passenger flights from Oct 1 to 7, up 1.7 percent year-on-year, while international and regional passenger flights increased 1.56 percent to 17,000, data from VariFlight showed.

Airfares posted stronger gains, with the average one-way domestic ticket price, including taxes, rising 9 percent year-on-year to approximately 960 yuan ($135), while international and regional fares climbed 6 percent to around 1,850 yuan.

The simultaneous increase in flight volumes and airfares highlighted sustained travel demand during one of the country's busiest holiday periods.

Flight activity eased in the middle of the holiday before rebounding toward the end, according to the data.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong province led in overall and domestic flight volumes, while Shanghai Pudong International Airport maintained its position as the busiest hub for international and regional services.

Shanghai Pudong climbed to second place in domestic flight rankings from sixth a year earlier, while Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Guangdong slipped from second to eighth.

Several regional aviation hubs registered notable gains. Beijing Daxing, Urumqi Tianshan, Haikou Meilan and Chengdu Shuangliu international airports each recorded double-digit growth in domestic flights.

International and regional aviation activity remained concentrated at major gateways, with the five busiest airports accounting for nearly 56 percent of operated flights and the top 10 representing 72.47 percent.

Shanghai Pudong retained its lead despite operating 212 fewer international and regional flights than a year earlier, while second-ranked Guangzhou Baiyun recorded an increase of 273 flights.

Urumqi Tianshan, Jinan Yaoqiang and Chongqing Jiangbei international airports posted relatively rapid growth in international and regional services, although their flight volumes remained considerably smaller than those leading international aviation hubs.