China aviation market briefing
Flight data for China
September 2026
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How much airline capacity does China have in 2026?
Monthly scheduled capacity: September 2025 vs September 2026
Which is the biggest airline in China?
China Southern is the busiest airline this month with 10.8m seats and representing 15% of the domestic market in September 26. A close second, China Eastern Airlines also holds 15% share of the domestic market, with 10.5m seats in September 26.
Shandong Airlines and Xiamen Airlines Company reduced capacity by 3.1% and 0.1% respectively vs September 25. Sichuan Airlines increased capacity at the fastest rate, increasing by 17.5% 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, capacity has increased by 13.6% vs last year.
| No | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun | 3.55m | +13.6% |
| 2. | PEK | Beijing Capital | 2.88m | +5.2% |
| 3. | SZX | Shenzhen | 2.78m | −3.9% |
| 4. | PKX | Beijing Daxing | 2.67m | +16.5% |
| 5. | PVG | Shanghai Pudong | 2.61m | +15.2% |
| 6. | TFU | Chengdu Tianfu | 2.47m | +3.8% |
| 7. | SHA | Shanghai Hongqiao | 2.31m | +2.7% |
| 8. | XIY | Xi'an Xianyang | 2.25m | +0.5% |
| 9. | HGH | Hangzhou | 2.22m | +6.1% |
| 10. | KMG | Kunming | 2.18m | +3.9% |
Source: OAG · September 2026 · hover chart or click a table row to cross-highlight
Beijing Capital (PEK) is the second busiest airport with 2.9m, an increase of 5.2% in capacity vs September 25.
Capacity increased at the fastest rate again at Beijing Daxing, up by 16.5% vs September 25. Followed by Shanghai Pudong which increased by 15.2% year on year.
What are the busiest domestic flight routes in China?
Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen (SHA - SZX) is the busiest route this month, with 597,400 seats. Beijing Capital Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao (PEK-SHA) route is a close second busiest route with 596,200 seats, a reduction of 0.2% vs September 25.
Capacity increased at the fastest rate on the Guangzhou Baiyun to Beijing Daxing (CAN-PKX) route, increasing by 19.9% to 357,300 seats. Followed by Guangzhou Baiyun to Shanghai Hongqiao (CAN-SHA) which increased by 18.9% vs last year to 579,500 seats. Capacity reduced at the fastest rate again on the Guangzhou to Beijing Capital route (CAN-PEK) route, a reduction of 8.5% vs September 25.
Source: OAG · September 2026 scheduled capacity
What is the busiest city for flights in China?
Beijing remains the busiest city this month with 5.6m seats through the 2 main airports in September 26, representing 8% of the market and growing by 10% vs last year. Capacity at Shanghai, the second busiest city with 4.9m seats, represents 7% share of the market.
Capacity for the city of Guangzhou grew at the fastest rate of 14%, remaining 4th 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 7.9m seats which is 11% of all scheduled departing capacity in September 26. This represents 2.3m more seats than Beijing province, the second largest province.
Capacity grew at the fastest rate in Beijing and Yunnan Provinces, both increasing by 10% vs last year.
Seat capacity by province
Where do Chinese airlines fly internationally?
The Republic of Korea remains the busiest international market with 1.1m seats, up 26% vs last year. Hong Kong is the second busiest markets, with 731,900 seats, also increased by 10% vs September 25.
Top 10 international markets
Capacity to Japan continues to reduce significantly by 44% to 567,800 seats.
International capacity grew fastest to Türkiye and the Philippines by 61% and 52% respectively. Both remain smaller markets with 103,100 seats to/from the Philippines and 95,500 to/from Türkiye.
Capacity remains 40% down to UAE at 91,200 seats.
China aviation: frequently asked questions
China domestic airline capacity by province — September 2026
Guangdong: 7,865,639 seats (+6% vs Sep 2025, 11% share) · Beijing: 5,551,483 seats (+10%, 8%) · Sichuan: 5,114,221 seats (+7%, 7%) · Shanghai: 4,924,487 seats (+9%, 7%) · Zhejiang: 4,242,691 seats (+9%, 6%) · Yunnan: 3,537,618 seats (+10%, 5%) · Jiangsu: 3,309,787 seats (+6%, 5%) · Shandong: 3,174,663 seats (+1%, 4%) · Xinjiang: 3,061,256 seats (+7%, 4%) · Shaanxi: 2,551,261 seats (+1%, 4%)
Fastest-growing provinces: Beijing (+10%) and Yunnan (+10%). All top 10 provinces saw year-on-year growth.
Source: OAG · September 2026 scheduled departing capacity by province
Top 10 Chinese airlines by seat capacity — September 2026
| No | Airline | Seats (Sep 2026) | Seats (Sep 2025) | YoY Change | Domestic Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | China Southern Airlines | 10,831,243 | 10,416,936 | +4.0% | 15% |
| 2. | China Eastern Airlines | 10,524,633 | 9,637,802 | +9.2% | 15% |
| 3. | Air China | 7,976,455 | 7,754,493 | +2.9% | 11% |
| 4. | Hainan Airlines | 3,686,618 | 3,798,357 | -2.9% | 5% |
| 5. | Shenzhen Airlines | 3,560,676 | 3,207,673 | +11.0% | 5% |
| 6. | Sichuan Airlines | 3,527,402 | 3,002,822 | +17.5% | 5% |
| 7. | Xiamen Airlines Company | 2,978,531 | 2,980,479 | -0.1% | 4% |
| 8. | Spring Airlines | 2,860,068 | 2,526,474 | +13.2% | 4% |
| 9. | Shandong Airlines | 2,643,925 | 2,727,687 | -3.1% | 4% |
| 10. | Juneyao Airlines | 1,692,999 | 1,503,711 | +12.6% | 2% |
Source: OAG · September 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 72m seats. Overall capacity grew by 6.2% vs last year, with domestic increasing by 5.9% and international capacity increasing by 7.6%.