Air transport sector sees strong growth driven by intl routes

China's air transport sector sustained robust growth in October, with both international passenger and cargo volumes expanding by more than 20 percent, underscoring the continued recovery of cross-border travel and the accelerating momentum of global logistics, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The administration said the industry delivered solid performance across all major indicators during last month. China's civil aviation sector handled a total transportation turnover of 14.6 billion ton-kilometers in October, up 10.8 percent year-on-year. Airlines carried 67.84 million passenger trips, an increase of 5.8 percent, while cargo and mail volume reached 917,000 tons, climbing 13.4 percent compared to a year earlier. Notably, international cargo throughput exceeded 900,000 tons for the first time in a single month, reflecting strong demand in global supply chains ahead of the year-end peak season.

International routes continued to lead the recovery. In October, the sector recorded 5.55 billion ton-kilometers in transportation turnover, up 19.9 percent year-on-year. International passenger traffic grew 20.4 percent to 6.99 million trips, while international cargo and mail volume rose 21 percent to 399,000 tons.

Domestic routes also maintained steady growth, with total transportation turnover increasing 5.8 percent, and airlines serving 60.85 million passenger trips, up 4.4 percent from a year earlier. Domestic cargo and mail volume reached 518,000 tons, marking 8.1 percent year-on-year growth.

From January to October, China's air transport industry continued to expand on a broader scale. The sector handled 136.63 billion ton-kilometers in total transportation turnover nationwide, an increase of 10.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Passenger trips reached 650 million, up 5.3 percent, including 66.15 million international passengers, the number of which grew 23.2 percent year-on-year. Cargo and mail volume totaled 8.31 million tons, rising 13.9 percent, supported by a notable 21.7 percent surge in international cargo.

The latest data reflect stable domestic demand and a strong rebound in international connectivity, with both markets expected to maintain positive momentum heading into the winter season.