The aviation industry is buzzing with anticipation as travelers plan their escapes with the National Day holiday approaching. "We expect continued growth in the aviation sector during the National Day holiday period," said Zhao Nan, General Manager of the Industry Development Department at Ume Trip.

Data from Ume Trip reveals that as of September 24, domestic flight bookings for the holiday (September 30 to October 7) have surpassed 7.3 million tickets, with daily average bookings increasing by approximately 17 percent year-on-year. International and regional flight bookings have topped 1.25 million tickets, marking a staggering 1.5-fold increase in daily average bookings compared to the same period in 2023.

Domestic travel destinations continue to be dominated by hot spots like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Chongqing. The trend of autumn tourism has gained significant momentum, with Yunnan, Xinjiang, Zhangjiajie, and Dunhuang expected to see a substantial surge.

Average prices of domestic and outbound flights have decreased significantly 

The affordability factor has also played a pivotal role in fueling the travel boom. According to Ctrip's "2024 National Day Travel Forecast Report," both domestic and outbound airfares have declined by over 20 percent year-over-year, largely due to visa-free policies and the resurgence of global flight capacity.

Hotel prices have also softened, leading to a high-value-for-money proposition that has ignited a surge in holiday bookings. Meanwhile, inbound travel orders have grown by 60 percent. With inbound tourism and outbound tourism as well as domestic tourism on the rise, the dual circulation pattern is evident. 

Qunar's platform data echoes this trend, with international flight bookings doubling year-on-year, indicating a robust appetite for outbound travel. Booking services now involve 1,597 cities across 144 countries.

Moreover, the outbound travel trend is deepening its reach, with orders from residents of third-tier and lower-tier cities soaring 2.5 times compared to last year, accounting for nearly 20 percent of total bookings. Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo, Singapore, Bali, Phuket, and Macao top the list of the most popular destinations.

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Mexico, Madagascar, Cuba, Morocco, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, and Montenegro have also seen remarkable gains in flight and hotel bookings.

Expanded airline networks offer more options

China Southern Airlines plans to add over 3,000 flights around the National Day holiday, with a total of 23,000 flights scheduled during the period.

Domestic flights will exceed 20,000, with a focus on tourist hotspots in western provinces like Xinjiang, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Gansu. Internationally, nearly 3,000 flights are scheduled, with continuing popularity in routes to Japan and Southeast Asia, complemented by new and increased services to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and other destinations.

Spring Airlines will commence daily flights from Guangzhou to Fukuoka, Japan, starting from September 20th, with one-way ticket price as low as RMB 100 (excluding taxes and fees).

Ethiopian Airlines, meanwhile, has increased services on its Guangzhou-Addis Ababa route to ten flights per week, offering a 15 percent discount for bookings made before September 30th for travel starting from September 28th.

Travelers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area also have exciting new options, with China Eastern Airlines launching a Shanghai-Venice route on September 26th and a direct Shanghai Pudong-Kazan flight from September 28th, which will be the first direct link between the two cities.