China's International Travel Demand Slow to Rebound After 3 Years of COVID Restrictions
• International travel to and from mainland China ground to a halt for 3 years due to COVID restrictions, before restrictions lifted in January 2023. Recovery is slower than expected.
• Domestic travel demand within China remains strong, while economic and geopolitical factors weigh on international demand.
• Increase in China-US flights agreed, which is essential to boost China's international traffic to pre-pandemic levels. Currently 70 flights per week, down from 300 per week in 2019.
• Pent-up demand for China travel dampened by lack of aircraft supply and manufacturers' backlogs. Closure of Russian airspace also a factor.
• Full recovery of China's international travel demand likely to take until 2025 due to slower-than-expected rebound.