Airlines collectively "launch new" routes, and "May Day" holiday ticket demand heats up

Source: Shanghai Securities News Author: Chen Mengna

In 2026, China’s civil aviation summer and autumn flight season will begin on March 29. Coupled with local spring break policies and expectations of rising fuel surcharges, many travelers have recently purchased tickets in advance to take advantage of the holidays to visit mountains and seas, and experience spring outings, flower viewing, and family trips. In terms of routes, airlines are collectively launching new routes, and many regional airports are expected to see a peak in passenger flow during the “May Day” holiday and summer vacation.

Increased Ticket Demand for “May Day” Holiday

A reporter from Shanghai Securities News found that ticket prices for the “May Day” holiday have increased to varying degrees compared to previous periods, according to OTA platform inquiries. Data from Qunar Travel shows that ticket bookings for travel during the “May Day” holiday have increased by nearly 20% year-on-year.

According to Qunar Travel data, as of now, the top ten most popular destinations for the “May Day” holiday are Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Kunming, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Urumqi, and Nanjing. In terms of booking growth, the fastest year-on-year increase in tickets for the “May Day” holiday is for flights to Wenzhou, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Nanning, Hefei, Shanghai, Yining, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, and Xishuangbanna, all surpassing 25%.

The Qunar Big Data Research Institute analyzes that in previous years, ticket bookings for the “May Day” holiday typically started two weeks in advance. This year, influenced by expectations of rising fuel surcharges, there has been a noticeable increase in travelers locking in tickets for the “May Day” holiday in advance. It is expected that next week, more travelers will continue to book tickets for the “May Day” holiday and summer vacation.

Spring Break Boosts Off-Season Ticket Sales

During this year’s Qingming holiday (April 4 to 6), combined with the implementation of spring breaks in many regions across the country, a general “3-day spring break + Qingming holiday” model has significantly boosted travel demand from April 1 to 6.

A report from Flight Butler indicates that spring break policies have covered many parts of the country, with 13 cities achieving seamless integration of spring breaks and the Qingming holiday. From April 1 to 6, most cities that implemented spring breaks plan to see a steady increase in flight numbers year-on-year, with Changzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing leading in growth.

“This data confirms the direct impact of the spring break policy on the demand for air transport capacity, effectively filling the idle capacity gap during the traditional off-season, turning April’s off-season into a new peak for civil aviation travel,” a DAST expert from Flight Butler told a reporter from Shanghai Securities News. The spring break provides a systemic foundation for the large-scale release of travel demand, and the policy’s focus on compulsory education students directly stimulates a significant increase in family group travel, becoming the core underlying logic for growth in civil aviation demand.

Many families are choosing to start their spring break trips early. Data from Qunar Travel shows that the number of travelers flying out on April 1 exceeds those flying out on April 4 (the first day of the Qingming holiday). Office workers tend to travel on April 3 (the day before the Qingming holiday), creating a second peak in departures. Additionally, the overlap of family and office worker travel flows creates a peak in return trips on April 6.

In terms of ticket prices, the average price for departures on April 1 is lower than for April 3. For example, on the popular route from Chengdu to Sanya, the lowest base ticket price for April 1 is about 800 yuan, which is higher than last week but about half the price compared to the “May Day” holiday.

“In cities where spring breaks are implemented, civil aviation ticket prices are showing a general upward trend, significantly improving industry profitability. This breaks the predicament of ‘involution’ in off-season prices in civil aviation, and with support from demand, the elasticity of ticket prices has been fully activated, providing strong support for the improvement of airline operational efficiency,” the expert stated. The demand for spring break travel is highly linked to scenarios such as cultural tourism and educational travel, raising the standards for cross-industry collaboration and product innovation in the civil aviation industry.

Small Airports May Experience a “Peak Season”

From rapeseed flower seas to blooming cherry blossoms, from the misty rain of Jiangnan to ancient sites in the Central Plains… With the continuous expansion and improvement of the domestic route network, travelers can reach a diverse range of destinations through regional airports, further opening growth opportunities in lower-tier markets and regional aviation.

The Qunar Big Data Research Institute analyzes that the upcoming “May Day” holiday and summer vacation are both peak travel periods, especially many small airports in the northwest are expected to welcome a peak season. From the route changes in the summer and autumn flight seasons, the increase in flight frequencies at several small airports in Xinjiang is the most notable. Additionally, in Quanzhou, where tourism continues to thrive, flight numbers are also expected to increase significantly.

In terms of domestic route layout, major airlines are intensifying their capacity in response to travel trends. China Eastern Airlines has newly opened routes primarily targeting tourism markets in Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Guangxi, with plans to launch a total of 41 new domestic routes, and the number of domestic routes being intensified will reach 65. Air China will open routes from Beijing to Yulin, Hanzhong, and Jiaxing. China Southern Airlines will launch several new routes from Beijing Daxing to Yining, Korla, and Quanzhou. Lucky Air is also responding to spring and summer travel demand by opening 7 new routes, focusing on tourist destinations with mountain and sea characteristics. Huaxia Airlines has established multiple air corridors connecting Central China and the Yangtze River Delta, providing travelers with rich choices.

A relevant person from Huaxia Airlines stated that in the future, the company will continue to optimize its route network and improve travel service quality, creating a convenient, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for passengers, and injecting new momentum into the local economy, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

(Editor: Wenjing)

Keywords:

                                                            Travel
                                                            Airfare