China aviation market

Flight data for China

June 2026

 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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Explore Chinese flight statistics at a glance

Here's an overview of the top statistics from China's aviation market this month:

  • The busiest airport: Baiyun International (CAN)
  • Top Chinese airline (domestic): China Southern
  • The busiest domestic air route in China: Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen (SHA - SZX)
  • China's biggest city for air capacity: Beijing
  • The top country Chinese travellers fly to: The Republic of Korea
  • Scroll down for more data from each category.

Top 10 busiest airports in China

 

Which are China's biggest airports?

  • Baiyun International (CAN) remains China's busiest domestic airport this month, with 3.2m seats, although capacity has increased by only 0.2% vs last year.
  • Shenzhen (SZN) is the second busiest airport with 2.9m, a decrease of 0.5% in capacity.
  • Capacity increased at the fastest rate again in Shanghai Pudong vs last year, increasing by 6% vs June 25.

Top 10 domestic airlines in China

 

 

What are China's top airlines?

  • China Southern is the largest airline this month with 10m seats, representing 15% of the domestic market in June 26.
  • China Eastern Airlines is a close second, with a 14% share of the domestic market, and 9.8m seats in June 26.
  • Shandong Airlines, Xiamen Airlines Company and Sichuan Airlines reduced capacity by 9%, 4.2% and 4.1% respectively vs June 25.
  • Spring Airlines increased capacity at the fastest rate of 15.6% vs last year.

Top 10 busiest airline routes in China

 

 

Which are the most flown airline routes in China?

  • Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen (SHA - SZX) is the busiest route with 611,700 seats, an increase of 5.7% vs  June 25.
  • Beijing Capital Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao (PEK-SHA) route moved to second busiest route this month, with 611,400 seats - only 378 fewer seats than SHA-SZX.
  • Capacity increased at the fastest rate on the Guangzhou Baiyun - Shanghai Hongqiao (CAN-SHA) route, increasing by 10.9% to 572,600 seats and taking it to 3rd busiest route.
  • Capacity reduced at the fastest rate again on the Guangzhou Baiyun to Beijing Capital (CAN-PEK) route, a reduction of 16.8% vs June 25.

China's busiest cities by airline capacity

 

Which Chinese cities are key for air travel?

  • Beijing remains the busiest city this month with 5.1m seats through the 2 main airports in June 26, representing 7% of the market.
  • Capacity at Shanghai, the second busiest city with 4.7m seats, also represents 7% share of the market.
  • Capacity at Urumqi grew at the fastest rate of 5% although it remains the 10th busiest city.

What percentage of Chinese airline capacity is domestic?

  • Domestic capacity accounts for 83% of all seats to, from and within China this month, at 67.6m seats.
  • Overall capacity was almost static, with growth of only 0.42% vs last year. Domestic capacity increased by 0.45% and international capacity by 0.27%.

*As of July 2025, international capacity is reported on a two-way basis (previously one-way departing). 

Distribution of China's international airline capacity by country

 

Which countries do Chinese travellers visit?

  • The Republic of Korea remains the busiest international market with 1m seats, up 11% vs last year.
  • Hong Kong is the second busiest markets, with 687,900 seats, also increased by 11% vs June 25.
  • Capacity to Japan continues to reduce significantly by 50% to 536,200 seats.
  • International capacity increased at the fastest rate to Türkiye and the Philippines by 55% and 51% respectively.  Both remain smaller markets with 88,800 to/from Türkiye and 107,300 seats to/from the Philippines.
  • Russia and Indonesia are fast growing international markets, increasing by 27% and 18% respectively vs June 25.

Top 10 Chinese provinces by seat capacity

  • The largest province for scheduled domestic airline capacity remains Guangdong Province, accounting for 7.6m seats which is 11% of all scheduled departing capacity in June 26. This represents 2.5m more seats than Beijing province, the second largest province.
  • Capacity grew at the fastest rate again in Xinjiang Province this month, by 7% vs last year.

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