Core Insights - The civil aviation industry in China experienced a busy holiday period during the Spring Festival, with a total of 22.05 million passengers transported and 171,000 flights operated from February 15 to 23, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.7% and 4.4% respectively compared to the same period in 2025 [1] Group 1: Passenger and Flight Statistics - During the Spring Festival, the peak day on February 23 saw 2.668 million passengers, a 7.6% increase from the same day in 2025, setting a new historical record [1] - The average daily passenger count was 2.45 million, with an average of 18,956 flights operated daily during the holiday [1] Group 2: Southern Airlines Performance - Southern Airlines executed over 27,000 passenger flights during the Spring Festival, transporting nearly 4.65 million passengers, reflecting a year-on-year growth of nearly 7% [1] - In the Guangzhou hub, Southern Airlines operated over 7,100 flights and served nearly 1.15 million passengers, with increases of 8.2% and 8.7% respectively [2] - The airline also addressed post-holiday travel challenges by adding temporary flights and larger aircraft on key routes, increasing capacity by nearly 2,500 seats [2] Group 3: Aircraft and Route Developments - Southern Airlines fully utilized 9 domestically produced C919 aircraft during the holiday, operating on 8 routes and completing over 290 flights, carrying more than 40,000 passengers [2] - Internationally, Southern Airlines saw a significant demand for routes to the UK and Singapore, achieving an average load factor exceeding 93% [3] - The airline executed over 2,700 flights on 56 international and regional routes, transporting over 490,000 passengers, which is an 18.3% increase year-on-year [3]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The Chinese civil aviation industry experienced significant growth during the Spring Festival holiday, with a notable increase in passenger transport and flight operations compared to the previous year. Group 1: Passenger Transport and Flight Operations - From February 15 to February 23, the national civil aviation transported a total of 22.05 million passengers and operated 171,000 flights, averaging 2.45 million passengers and 18,956 flights per day, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.7% and 4.4% respectively compared to the 2025 Spring Festival [1] - On February 23, 2026, the passenger transport reached a record high of 2.668 million, marking a 7.6% increase from the same day in 2025, with 19,601 flights operated, up 4.4% year-on-year [1] Group 2: Airline Performance - China Eastern Airlines transported over 4.33 million passengers during the nine-day holiday, averaging over 481,000 passengers per day, which is a 6.5% increase year-on-year, and executed 28,500 flights, averaging over 3,169 flights per day, up 2.2% [2] - China Southern Airlines reported nearly 4.65 million passengers transported and over 27,000 flights executed during the same period, reflecting a year-on-year growth of nearly 7% [2] Group 3: Operational Measures and Popular Routes - The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) ensured smooth operations by implementing measures such as increasing flight capacity and deploying wide-body aircraft to meet the high demand for return travel, particularly in Hainan [3] - Popular domestic airports included Guangzhou Baiyun, Shanghai Pudong, and Beijing Capital, while major routes involved Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing Capital and Shenzhen Bao'an to Shanghai Hongqiao [2][3] Group 4: International Travel Trends - The international travel market saw significant growth, with popular outbound destinations including Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore, and notable increases in passenger volume to countries like Malaysia and Vietnam [3] - The inbound tourism market also grew, with a substantial increase in travelers from countries such as South Korea and Vietnam [4]