Peak travel season is approaching; travelers are purchasing holiday flight tickets in advance.

The summer and autumn flight season for China’s civil aviation will commence on March 29, 2026. Coupled with regional spring holiday policies and the anticipated rise in fuel surcharges, many travelers are purchasing tickets early to visit mountains and seas, experiencing spring outings, flower-viewing trips, and family vacations. Regarding routes, airlines are collectively launching new flights, and many regional airports will see a peak in passenger flow during the “May Day” holiday and summer vacation.

“May Day” holiday ticket demand heats up

A Shanghai Securities Journal reporter’s investigation on OTA platforms shows that ticket prices for the “May Day” holiday have increased to varying degrees compared to previous periods. Data from Qunar Travel indicates that bookings for the “May Day” holiday have grown by nearly 20% year-on-year.

Qunar Travel data shows that, so far, 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, tickets for flights to Wenzhou, Ningbo, Guangzhou, Nanning, Hefei, Shanghai, Yining, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, and Xishuangbanna during the “May Day” holiday have experienced the fastest year-on-year increases, all exceeding 25%.

The Qunar Big Data Research Institute believes that in the past, “May Day” holiday ticket bookings typically started two weeks in advance. This year, influenced by the expected increase in fuel surcharges, there has been a significant rise in travelers securing tickets early for the holiday. It is expected that next week, bookings for “May Day” and summer flights will continue to grow.

Spring break combined with continuous holidays boosts off-season ticket sales

This year’s Qingming holiday (April 4-6), along with nationwide spring break policies in many regions, has adopted a “3-day spring break plus Qingming holiday” continuous holiday model, significantly increasing travel from April 1 to 6.

A Flight Butler source reports that spring break policies now cover many parts of the country, with 13 cities achieving seamless integration between spring break and Qingming holiday. From April 1 to 6, most cities implementing spring break plan to see steady growth in flight volumes year-on-year, with Changzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing leading in increases.

“This data confirms that spring break policies directly stimulate demand for air capacity, effectively filling capacity gaps during the traditional off-season, turning April into a small peak in civil aviation travel,” said a DAST expert from Flight Butler to the Shanghai Securities Journal. Spring break provides a systematic foundation for large-scale demand release, and the policy’s focus on students in compulsory education directly drives a substantial increase in family group travel, forming the core logic behind the growth in civil aviation demand.

Many families are choosing to start their spring break early. Qunar Travel data shows that, in terms of numbers, more travelers depart by plane on April 1 than on April 4 (the first day of Qingming). Office workers tend to travel on April 3 (the day before Qingming), creating a second small peak in departures. Additionally, the combined flow of family travelers and office workers results in a return peak on April 6.

Ticket prices for April 1 departures are lower than those for April 3. For example, the lowest base fare for flights from Chengdu to Sanya departing on April 1 is about 800 yuan, higher than last week but roughly half the price of the “May Day” holiday.

“Cities implementing spring break are seeing a general rise in civil aviation ticket prices, significantly improving industry profitability. This breaks the ‘involution’ in off-season pricing, and demand support has fully activated price elasticity, strongly aiding airlines’ operational efficiency,” the expert added. Spring break travel demand is highly linked to scenarios such as cultural tourism and educational trips, raising higher standards for cross-sector cooperation and product innovation in civil aviation.

Small airports may experience a peak season

From rapeseed fields to blooming cherry blossoms, from Jiangnan’s misty rain to ancient relics in Central China… As domestic flight networks continue to expand and improve, travelers can reach diverse destinations via regional airports, further opening growth potential in underserved markets and regional airlines.

The Qunar Big Data Research Institute notes that the upcoming “May Day” holiday and summer vacation are peak travel periods, especially for small airports in the northwest, which are expected to see a busy season. From the route changes during the summer and autumn seasons, the most notable increase in flight frequency is at several small airports in Xinjiang. Additionally, Quanzhou in Fujian, which remains popular for tourism, will also see a significant rise in flight volume.

In terms of domestic route deployment, major airlines are increasing capacity in line with tourism trends. China Eastern Airlines has launched new routes focusing on Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Guangxi, planning to add 41 new domestic routes, with the total number of routes increasing to 65. Air China will open routes from Beijing to Yulin, Hanzhong, and Jiaxing. China Southern Airlines is adding new routes from Beijing Daxing to Yining, Korla, and Quanzhou. Lucky Air is responding to spring and summer travel demands by opening seven new routes, mainly to scenic mountain and sea destinations. Huaxia Airlines has built multiple air corridors connecting Central China and the Yangtze River Delta, offering travelers a variety of options.

A Huaxia Airlines representative stated that the company will continue to optimize its route network, improve travel service quality, and provide passengers with convenient, efficient, and comfortable travel experiences, injecting new momentum into local economies, tourism, and cultural exchanges.