China aviation market briefing
Flight data for China
August 2026
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How much airline capacity does China have in 2026?
Monthly scheduled capacity: August 2025 vs August 2026
Which is the biggest airline in China?
China Southern is the busiest airline this month with 12.3m seats and representing 15% of the domestic market in August 26. A close second, China Eastern Airlines holds 14% share of the domestic market, with 12m seats in August 26.
Shandong Airlines and Xiamen Airlines Company reduced capacity by 3.5% and 0.8% respectively vs August 25. Shenzhen Airlines increased capacity at the fastest rate, increasing by 14.4% 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 3.7m seats, capacity has increased by 9.2% vs last year.
| No | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun | 3.74m | +9.2% |
| 2. | PEK | Beijing Capital | 3.26m | +11.7% |
| 3. | SZX | Shenzhen | 3.21m | +3.5% |
| 4. | PKX | Beijing Daxing | 2.92m | +16.8% |
| 5. | TFU | Chengdu Tianfu | 2.92m | +4.6% |
| 6. | PVG | Shanghai Pudong | 2.88m | +17.3% |
| 7. | XIY | Xi'an Xianyang | 2.62m | +3.6% |
| 8. | KMG | Kunming | 2.62m | +1.9% |
| 9. | CKG | Chongqing | 2.49m | +11.9% |
| 10. | SHA | Shanghai Hongqiao | 2.47m | +2.0% |
Source: OAG · August 2026 · hover chart or click a table row to cross-highlight
Beijing Capital (PEK) is the second busiest airport with 3.3m, an increase of 11.7% in capacity vs August 25.
Capacity increased at the fastest rate again in Shanghai Pudong, increasing by 17.3% vs August 25. Followed by Beijing Daxing which increased by 16.8% year on year.
What are the busiest domestic flight routes in China?
Beijing Capital Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao (PEK-SHA) route is the busiest route with 618,300 seats, an increase of 4% vs August 25. Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen (SHA - SZX) is the second busiest route this month, with 601,700 seats.
Capacity increased at the fastest rate on the Chengdu to Beijing Capital (CTU-PEK) route, increasing by 25.1% to 476,200 seats. Followed by Hangzhou to Shenzhen (HGH - SZX) which increased by 19.3% vs last year to 403,100 seats. Capacity reduced at the fastest rate again on the Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen route (SHA-SZX) route, a reduction of 4.3% vs Aug 25.
Source: OAG · August 2026 scheduled capacity
What is the busiest city for flights in China?
Beijing remains the busiest city this month with 6.2m seats through the 2 main airports in August 26, representing 7% of the market and growing by 14% vs last year. Capacity at Shanghai, the second busiest city with 5.3m seats, represents 6% share of the market.
Capacity at the city of Urumqi grew at the fastest rate of 15%, although it remains the 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 8.8m seats which is 10% of all scheduled departing capacity in August 26. This represents 2.6m more seats than Beijing province, the second largest province.
Capacity grew at the fastest rate in Beijing Province, by 14% vs last year. Followed by Xinjiang Province, where it increased by 13% vs last year.
Seat capacity by province
Where do Chinese airlines fly internationally?
The Republic of Korea remains the busiest international market with 1.2m seats, up 21% vs last year. Hong Kong is the second busiest market, with 789,200 seats, also increased by 8% vs August 25.
Top 10 international markets
Capacity to Japan continues to reduce significantly by 51% to 589,800 seats.
International capacity increased at the fastest rate to the Philippines and Türkiye by 64% and 55% respectively. Both remain smaller markets with 118,100 seats to/from the Philippines and 100,700 to/from Türkiye.
Russia and Indonesia are also fast growing international markets, increasing by 38% and 29% respectively vs Aug 25.
China aviation: frequently asked questions
China domestic airline capacity by province — August 2026
Guangdong: 8,754,699 seats (+5.9% vs Aug 2025, 10% share) · Beijing: 6,187,559 seats (+14.0%, 7%) · Sichuan: 5,828,474 seats (+7.0%, 7%) · Shanghai: 5,349,696 seats (+9.7%, 6%) · Zhejiang: 4,786,298 seats (+8.0%, 6%) · Yunnan: 4,371,106 seats (+8.2%, 5%) · Shandong: 3,830,063 seats (−0.2%, 5%) · Jiangsu: 3,815,379 seats (+4.9%, 5%) · Xinjiang: 3,617,630 seats (+13.3%, 4%) · Shaanxi: 2,945,757 seats (+3.2%, 4%)
Fastest-growing provinces: Beijing (+14.0%) and Xinjiang (+13.3%). Only Shandong saw a year-on-year decline (−0.2%).
Source: OAG · August 2026 scheduled departing capacity by province
Top 10 Chinese airlines by seat capacity — August 2026
| No | Airline | Seats (Aug 2026) | Seats (Aug 2025) | YoY Change | Domestic Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China Southern Airlines | 12,310,659 | 12,160,164 | +1.2% | 15% |
| 2. | China Eastern Airlines | 11,970,644 | 11,343,701 | +5.5% | 14% |
| 3. | Air China | 9,233,447 | 8,457,031 | +9.2% | 11% |
| 4. | Hainan Airlines | 4,710,241 | 4,565,661 | +3.2% | 6% |
| 5. | Sichuan Airlines | 4,208,366 | 3,899,527 | +7.9% | 5% |
| 6. | Shenzhen Airlines | 4,193,476 | 3,664,885 | +14.4% | 5% |
| 7. | Xiamen Airlines | 3,498,201 | 3,525,828 | -0.8% | 4% |
| 8. | Shandong Airlines | 3,136,976 | 3,249,353 | -3.5% | 4% |
| 9. | Spring Airlines | 3,134,514 | 2,814,480 | +11.4% | 4% |
| 10. | Juneyao Airlines | 1,924,548 | 1,748,696 | +10.1% | 2% |
Source: OAG · August 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 84% of all seats to, from and within China this month, with 83.7m seats. Overall capacity grew by 5.8% vs last year, with domestic increasing by 6% and international capacity increasing by 4.5%.