China Gears Up For Record Spring Festival Travel Rush

BEIJING, Jan 25 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- China is gearing up for its annual Spring Festival travel rush, the world's largest human migration, with authorities implementing measures to enhance services, Xinhua reported.

The 40-day travel period, which began on Jan 14, is expected to witness a record 9 billion passenger trips across the country as passenger needs evolve.

This year's Spring Festival travel rush is marked by several changes. In terms of travel volume, the total will reach a historic record, said Wang Xiuchun, an official at the Ministry of Transport, who joined the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.

Correspondingly, different modes of travel, including civil aviation, railways, and self-drive road trips, will each set new records, Wang said.

The structure of passenger flows has also evolved, with an increasing number of travellers opting for tourism during the holiday. Additionally, the rise of self-drive trips and the expansion of travel modes have altered the transportation mix.

China's aviation regulator said air travel has become a mainstream choice during the Spring Festival season, with flight volumes now consistently exceeding annual averages.

During the 2024 Spring Festival period, not only did the daily average flight volume exceed the annual average, but there were also 27 high-volume flight days, said Shang Kejia, an official at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This marks a significant increase compared to 2014, when fewer than half of the travel season days exceeded average volumes.

The flight volume and the number of passenger trips will both reach new highs, with daily flights expected to exceed 18,500, up 8.4 per cent year on year, and passenger trips projected to surpass 90 million, said Shang.

Safety remains the top priority for transportation authorities. Wang emphasised that comprehensive safety inspections and risk assessments have been conducted across all transportation sectors, focusing on key areas and personnel to ensure the absolute safety of passengers and their property.

The transport ministry is coordinating efforts to improve integrated transportation services, including better connectivity between urban and intercity transport.

With self-drive trips becoming more popular, authorities are ramping up preparations along major highways and expressways, implementing toll-free policies for small vehicles during the holiday period, and enhancing services at congested areas and rest stops.

China's railway system is expected to play a crucial role in the travel rush. Zhu Wenzhong, a railway official, highlighted that over 93 per cent of train tickets are now purchased online, significantly improving the booking experience.

The railway sector has also enhanced station facilities and equipment, while focusing on improving food services during journeys, including expanding hot meal options and offering internet-based meal ordering services at 84 stations.

In the aviation sector, Shang said the CAAC had outlined plans to optimise flight arrangements for popular routes. Airlines are encouraged to use larger aircraft for direct flights to high-demand destinations such as Sanya, Haikou, Harbin, and Urumqi.

The CAAC is also supporting customised charter flights for students and migrant workers. A special task force has been established to oversee safety measures, service quality, and emergency response capabilities throughout the travel period.

– BERNAMA-XINHUA