China eyes full rebound of air travel
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Topics: CHINA
The nation will step up measures to ensure efficient flight schedules for domestic and international airlines, upgrade China-US and China-Europe civil aviation cooperation and gradually loosen air travel policies in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global aviation market is estimated to return to its 2019 levels by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Thanks to efficient epidemic prevention and control measures, China's aviation market quickly rebounded and was the top performer in the global market last year, with domestic air travel reaching 94.5 percent of its 2019 level in the fourth quarter.
The country handled 420 million air passenger trips last year, marking the world's second-largest civil aviation volume for 15 consecutive years, according to the report.
The aviation authority plans to boost the domestic aviation market by developing regional airlines and stimulating air travel demand in second-and third-tier cities, the report said. Strengthening cooperation with other transportation companies and boosting integrative development with local economies are also encouraged. ■