China Civil Aviation Sees Strong Growth in Passenger & Cargo Volumes

China's civil aviation sector demonstrated robust performance in October 2025, recording a total transport turnover of 14.6 billion ton-kilometers. This significant growth reflects the country's expanding trade and tourism activities, with both passenger and cargo transport achieving double-digit increases across the board. The sector's strong showing underscores its increasing importance in global logistics and travel.

Domestic routes played a crucial role, accommodating 60.85 million passengers, marking a 4.4% year-on-year increase. However, international routes exhibited even more dynamic growth, transporting 6.99 million passengers, an impressive 20.4% rise compared to the previous year. Similarly, cargo and mail volumes saw substantial expansion, with domestic transport reaching 518,000 tons and international volumes climbing to 399,000 tons, representing a 21% increase on international routes.

Cumulatively, from January to October 2025, China’s civil aviation completed 136.63 billion ton-kilometers, an overall increase of 10.3% year-on-year. Passenger volume across all routes rose by 5.3%, with international passenger traffic alone surging by 23.2%. Cargo and mail transport also expanded significantly by 13.9% during this period, further solidifying the increasing internationalization of China’s aviation sector and its pivotal role in facilitating global trade and e-commerce.