China’s airlines are adding 288 domestic routes. Can the sector’s recovery keep up?

Chinese airlines plan to add 288 domestic routes for the 2026-27 winter-spring travel season, with tropical Hainan and ski destinations in Xinjiang popular among travellers. International flights to some countries are also set to surge by 40 per cent. Most of the new domestic routes will connect coastal cities with tourist hotspots in central and western China, according to figures from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The new flight season began on Sunday and runs until March.