Initial tally of National Day holiday travel shows that China’s carriers transported 12.95 million passengers during the 8-day holiday period, an increase of 14.6% from the same period last year. Airlines registered an average passenger load factor (PLF) of more than 80%. China’s airlines operated a total of 96,000 flights during the holiday, up 4.12% year on year, and achieved stable safety records.
The airports of major cities generally registered higher passenger throughout during the holiday. Flights departing from Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Hangzhou airports in the first half of the holiday achieved average PLF of above 90%, while flights departing from Sanya, Jinggangshan, Wuyi Mountain, Huangshan, Nanchang, Yantai and Luoyang airports at the second half of the holiday also had PLF of above 90%.
Passenger volume indicated that the travel volume began to swell from as early as September 30 and peaked on October 1 with 1.672 million passengers on the day, before it began to slow from October 2. As the holiday period spanned over eight days, traffic volume stayed high throughout, except on around October 4 when traffic was at the lowest due to passengers staying around for the Mid-Autumn Festival family reunion. The volume of returning passengers increased from October 5 and peaked on October 7 and 8.
