China aviation market briefing
Flight data for China
October 2026
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How much airline capacity does China have in 2026?
Monthly scheduled capacity: October 2025 vs October 2026
Which is the biggest airline in China?
China Eastern is the busiest airline this month with 11.2m seats and representing 15% of the domestic market in October 26.
A close second busiest airline, China Southern Airlines also holds 15% share of the domestic market, with 10.8m seats in October 26.
Hainan Airlines and Shandong Airlines reduced capacity by 7.9% and 6.4% respectively vs October 25.
Spring Airlines increased capacity at the fastest rate, increasing by 10.3% vs last year.
Seat capacity by airline
What is the busiest airport in China?
Baiyun International (CAN) remains China's busiest domestic airport this month, with 3.5m seats, and a capacity increase of 5% vs last year.
| No | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun | 3.55m | +5.0% |
| 2. | PEK | Beijing Capital | 2.91m | −1.2% |
| 3. | SZX | Shenzhen | 2.83m | −7.3% |
| 4. | PKX | Beijing Daxing | 2.62m | +8.7% |
| 5. | PVG | Shanghai Pudong | 2.58m | +8.3% |
| 6. | TFU | Chengdu Tianfu | 2.54m | +2.5% |
| 7. | SHA | Shanghai Hongqiao | 2.38m | +0.6% |
| 8. | XIY | Xi'an Xianyang | 2.29m | −0.6% |
| 9. | HGH | Hangzhou | 2.25m | +2.8% |
| 10. | KMG | Kunming | 2.23m | +1.6% |
Source: OAG · October 2026 · hover chart or click a table row to cross-highlight
Beijing Capital (PEK) is the second busiest airport with 2.9m, a reduction of 1.2% in capacity vs October 25.
Capacity grew fastest again in Beijing Daxing, increasing by 8.7% vs October 25. Followed by Shanghai Pudong which increased by 8.3% year on year.
Capacity in Shenzhen reduced at the fastest rate, by 7.3% vs last year.
What are the busiest domestic flight routes in China?
Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen (SHA - SZX) is the busiest route this month, with 625,600 seats.
Beijing Capital Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao (PEK-SHA) route is a close second busiest route with 615,000 seats, a reduction of 5.2% vs October 25.
Capacity increased at the fastest rate on the Baiyun to Shanghai Hongqiao (CAN-SHA) route, increasing by 8.9% to 587,300 seats. Followed by Baiyun to Shanghai Pudong (CAN-PKX) which increased by 7.4% vs last year to 340,800 seats.
Capacity reduced at the fastest rate on the Beijing Capital to Shenzhen route (PEK-SZX) route, a reduction of 14.4% vs October 25.
Source: OAG · October 2026 scheduled capacity
What is the busiest city for flights in China?
Beijing remains the busiest city this month with 5.5m seats through the 2 main airports in October 26, representing 8% of the market and growing by 3% vs last year.
Capacity at Shanghai, the second busiest city with 5m seats, represents 7% share of the market.
Capacity at the city of Urumqi grew at the fastest rate of 9%, it is 10th busiest city.
Top 5 cities by seat capacity
Which Chinese province has the most flights?
The largest province for scheduled domestic airline capacity remains Guangdong Province, accounting for 8.1m seats which is 11% of all scheduled departing capacity in October 26. This represents 2.6m more seats than Beijing province, the second largest province.
Capacity grew at the fastest rate in Xinjiang Provinces, increasing by 9% vs last year to 2.9m seats.
Seat capacity by province
Where do Chinese airlines fly internationally?
The Republic of Korea remains the busiest international market with 1.2m seats, up 27% vs last year.
Hong Kong is the second busiest market, with 761,000 seats, increased by 7% vs October 25.
Top 10 international markets
Capacity to Japan continues to reduce significantly by 44% to 584,600 seats.
International capacity increased at the fastest rate to Türkiye and the Philippines by 54% and 46% respectively. Both remain smaller markets with 114,400 seats to/from the Philippines and 97,500 to/from Türkiye.
Capacity remains 36% down to UAE at 109,400 seats.
China aviation: frequently asked questions
China domestic airline capacity by province — October 2026
Guangdong: 8,081,613 seats (+1.3% vs Oct 2025, 11% share) · Beijing: 5,529,947 seats (+3.2%, 8%) · Sichuan: 5,094,998 seats (+2.5%, 7%) · Shanghai: 4,951,812 seats (+4.5%, 7%) · Zhejiang: 4,360,995 seats (+5.9%, 6%) · Yunnan: 3,632,435 seats (+5.6%, 5%) · Jiangsu: 3,337,402 seats (+4.2%, 5%) · Shandong: 3,236,994 seats (+0.1%, 4%) · Xinjiang: 2,898,507 seats (+8.5%, 4%) · Shaanxi: 2,594,237 seats (−0.4%, 4%)
Fastest-growing province: Xinjiang (+8.5%). Shaanxi (−0.4%) was the only top 10 province with a year-on-year decline.
Source: OAG · October 2026 scheduled departing capacity by province
Top 10 Chinese airlines by seat capacity — October 2026
| No | Airline | Seats (Oct 2026) | Seats (Oct 2025) | YoY Change | Domestic Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China Eastern Airlines | 11,216,244 | 10,245,112 | +9.5% | 15% |
| 2. | China Southern Airlines | 10,790,089 | 10,896,886 | -1.0% | 15% |
| 3. | Air China | 7,953,164 | 8,154,056 | -2.5% | 11% |
| 4. | Shenzhen Airlines | 3,662,406 | 3,409,169 | +7.4% | 5% |
| 5. | Hainan Airlines | 3,653,630 | 3,967,417 | -7.9% | 5% |
| 6. | Sichuan Airlines | 3,452,713 | 3,159,778 | +9.3% | 5% |
| 7. | Xiamen Airlines Company | 3,107,156 | 3,120,335 | -0.4% | 4% |
| 8. | Spring Airlines | 2,837,196 | 2,572,800 | +10.3% | 4% |
| 9. | Shandong Airlines | 2,720,237 | 2,905,269 | -6.4% | 4% |
| 10. | Juneyao Airlines | 1,687,707 | 1,556,053 | +8.5% | 2% |
Source: OAG · October 2026 scheduled capacity data
Flight data insights and aviation analysis focused on China's airline market , updated monthly with data powered by OAG's Schedules Analyser.
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Domestic capacity accounts for 82% of all seats to, from and within China this month, with 72.7m seats.
Overall capacity grew by 3.4% vs last year, with domestic capacity increasing by 2.8% and international capacity increasing by 6.4%.