China's two-month-long summer travel season officially kicked off on Monday and travelers boosted a sharp upswing in both domestic and overseas tourism, prompting many major airlines and airports in the country to ramp up their flight services.
For Air China, the national flag carrier, it is expected to operate 1,444 domestic flights on a daily basis during the 62-day travel peak season, nearly 40 percent higher than that of the same period in 2019.
Another China's leading airlines China Eastern Airlines has planned to put nearly 800 passenger aircraft, including six China's self-developed large passenger aircraft C919, into operation this summer and to fly a total of 1,002 passenger air routes covering 249 destinations in China and abroad.
In addition, it will fly 3,213 flights each day during the season.
Meanwhile, China Southern Airlines has arranged additional flights to popular tourist cities across the country.
The Sanya Phoenix International Airport, located in south China's Hainan Province, has long been a top destination for holidaymakers. It has actively coordinated with airlines to enhance transportation capacity, optimize the flight network and deploy wide-body aircraft to operate popular route to meet the surging travel needs of passengers.
"More volunteers will join us to ensure supporting service at check-in and special passenger service areas, and green channels will be opened for college freshmen to improve travel efficiency and help passengers travel smoothly," said Quan Xiaoyi, deputy head of the airport.
Hainan Airlines, also a top air carrier, has opened 20 new flight routes to its over 500 ones for the peak season, covering more than 80 cities across China.
"During the summer peak season, we will carry out 864 domestic and foreign flights every day, an increase of 10.6 percent compared with the summer of 2023. During July and August, the maximum capacity was 221 aircraft, of which 66 were wide-body aircraft," said Zhang Naifu, deputy head of the marketing committee under Hainan Airlines.
China's airlines boost capacity to meet summer travel demands
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged China and Russia to continue to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies and international strategic coordination.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Kazakh capital Astana.
Xi noted that President Putin paid a successful state visit to China in May this year, saying that on the important historical juncture of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, the two sides are jointly making important plans and arrangements for the further development of bilateral relations.
In the face of the turbulent international situation and external environment, both sides should continue to adhere to the original aspiration of lasting friendship, and stick to the determination of benefiting the people, he said.
Xi urged China and Russia to constantly conserve the unique value of bilateral relations and explore the internal driving forces of bilateral cooperation, while making new efforts to safeguard the legitimate interests of the two countries and uphold the basic norms governing international relations, he said.
Xi stressed that China and Russia should continue to step up the alignment of development strategies and cooperation in international strategies.
China supports Russia in fulfilling its duties as BRICS chair, uniting the "Global South," preventing a "new Cold War", and opposing illegal unilateral sanctions and hegemonism, Xi said.
Noting that the SCO summit in Astana will be held on Thursday, Xi said that China looks forward to working together with Russian and other SCO member states to promote the steady and sustained progress of the organization, and build an even closer SCO community with a shared future.
He called on China and Russia to continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference and jointly safeguard regional tranquility and stability.
For his part, Putin expressed his appreciation for President Xi's warm hospitality during his state visit to China in May.
The two heads of state jointly celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China, and made plans for the development of bilateral ties, he said.
Noting that the current Russia-China relations are at the highest level in history, Putin said the two sides respect each other, and treat each other with equality and mutual benefit, adding that Russia-China relationship featuring no-alliance, and no-targeting at any third party, which conforms to the well-being of the two peoples.
He stressed that Russia supports China in safeguarding its core interests and legitimate rights and interests, and opposes external interference in China's internal affairs and the South China Sea issue.
Noting that China will soon take over the rotating presidency of the SCO, Putin said Russia will fully support China's work and join hands with other member states to continuously enhance the international influence of the organization, safeguard regional peace and security, and promote the development of the international system in a more just and equitable direction.
As the rotating chair of BRICS this year, Russia looks forward to strengthening communication and coordination with China on BRICS cooperation, he added.
The two heads of state also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
Xi stressed that China always stands on the right side of history, adheres to promoting peace talks, and is willing to continue to make positive efforts for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and other regional hotspot issues.
Xi urges China, Russia to continue strengthening alignment of development strategies
