Long-Haul Travel Bookings from China Jump Over 40% on First Day of Golden Week

Bookings for long-haul flights covering distances over 2,000 kilometers from China jumped more than 40% year-on-year on the first day of the "Golden Week" holiday, according to travel platform data reported by the "Global Times" newspaper. This surge reflects strong demand for long-distance destinations during China's longest holiday period.

Demand for travel products to Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand increased by more than 40%, while overseas airport transfer services surged by 43%. These figures indicate that Chinese travelers' holiday spending is shifting toward long-distance destinations requiring long flights and high-cost transportation services.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China projected the transport of approximately 31.19 million passengers between September 25 and October 7, a 3.6% increase compared to last year, with international bookings rising by 22.5%. This combination of record international flight growth and specifically long-haul travel shows that recovery is shifting toward long-distance routes rather than short-haul destinations alone.

Japan dropped out of the top ten destinations list for Chinese tourists, a shift recorded for the first time in recent years, with Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur topping the list. This shift opens the door for aviation hubs in Asia and the Gulf to benefit from new traffic flows, especially as Chinese long-distance travelers look for comfortable flight connections through major airports.

What do these terms mean?

Golden Week: An official long holiday in China starting in early October, witnessing the year's largest travel surge. Long-haul flights: Flights that typically exceed 2,000 kilometers in distance. Civil Aviation Administration of China: The government authority responsible for regulating the country's aviation sector.