Home dominance to worldwide progress: China’s Golden Week capability developments

China’s Nationwide Day Golden Week highlights evolving journey developments, marked by a surge in worldwide journey with Japan main the way in which.

October 2, 2025

Harry ChanHead of Higher ChinaCirium

Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand and Singapore account for 50% of China’s whole worldwide seat capability.

Japan maintains its place as the preferred vacation spot, with South Korea following carefully behind.

Southeast Asia presents combined outcomes, with Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore rising in recognition, whereas Thailand declines.

Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) continues to dominate as China’s major worldwide hub.

As China’s Nationwide Day Golden Week approaches, the aviation business is carefully analyzing seat capability developments to arrange for this peak journey interval. Looking at Cirium’s information between twenty ninth September and tenth October throughout the years, we’re in a position to establish shifts in each home and worldwide journey developments, vacation spot preferences and key aviation hubs.

An in depth examination of seat capability, notably on worldwide routes, affords complete perception on how airline operations can strategically plan to fulfill the anticipated surge in demand throughout this vacation interval.

Home journey stays robust whereas worldwide progress surges

Supply: Cirium SRS Analyzer, scheduled seat capability between 29 September to 10 October 2025.

In recent times, the Nationwide Day Golden Week vacation season has seen a constant upward pattern in total seat capability, propelled by the surge in home flight capability. Since 2024, home flights have accounted for over 90% of the full capability, marking a big enhance from the 87.7% in 2019. This displays the rising choice for journey inside Mainland China.

Whereas home flights proceed to take up the vast majority of market quantity, worldwide capability is increasing at a speedy tempo. Between 2024 and 2025, worldwide seat capability is projected to develop round 10%, outpacing the modest 4% progress seen in home capability. This factors to a renewed and rising urge for food amongst Chinese language vacationers for abroad locations, at the same time as home journey stays dominant.

Shifting developments in worldwide locations

Supply: Cirium SRS Analyzer, scheduled seat capability between 29 September to 10 October 2025.

Apparently, the highest 5 nations/areas (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand and Singapore) accounts for 50% of China’s whole worldwide seat capability.

An in depth take a look at the highest 10 worldwide locations exhibits a dynamic shift in traveler preferences. Japan leads as the preferred vacation spot for Golden Week 2025, recording a 17.6% year-on-year enhance in seat capability. South Korea retains a robust second place, reinforcing East Asia’s continued enchantment.

Southeast Asia has skilled essentially the most notable change, displaying an total decline of roughly 8% in comparison with 2019. Thailand, as soon as the highest vacation spot in 2019, has dropped to the fourth place, with seat capability now almost halved since its peak in 2019. In distinction, Vietnam has seen excellent progress of greater than 53% since 2024, highlighting its rising recognition. Singapore and Malaysia proceed to realize momentum, posting beneficial properties of seven.3% and 12.6%, respectively.

One noteworthy shift within the high 10 record is the absence of america, which was ranked sixth in 2019. Present geopolitical developments and journey constraints might have shifted demand in direction of locations nearer to China.

Key airports supporting Golden Week journey

Supply: Cirium SRS Analyzer, scheduled seat capability between 29 September to 10 October 2025.

Supply: Cirium SRS Analyzer, scheduled seat capability between 29 September to 10 October 2025.

Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) continues to claim its dominance as a pivotal worldwide hub within the nation, with a ten.4% enhance in seat capability from 2024. Following carefully behind is Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN), reinforcing these hubs as essential gateways for each home and worldwide vacationers.

Apart from the plain lead vacation spot above, rising locations like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Metropolis have skilled vital progress in seat capacities over the previous two years, growing from rank 35 and 25 again in 2019, however now rating at 11 and 13 respectively.

Supply: Cirium SRS Analyzer, scheduled seat capability between 29 September to 10 October 2025.

Seven of the ten busiest outbound worldwide routes originated from PVG. China’s high worldwide route is Shanghai Pudong to Osaka Kansai (PVG-KIX), which surged 35%, propelling it from fourth place in 2019 to first place in 2025. Equally, Shanghai Pudong – Tokyo Narita (PVG-NRT) has additionally elevated 14% in comparison with pre-covid days, noting an growing attraction in direction of Japan.

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