BEIJING – China expects a sharp jump in travel during the Chinese New Year holidays, with about 2.1 billion trips – by air, land and water – to be made over the period, twice as many as that during the same time in 2022. 

The recent relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions is likely to spur people to return home to visit their families, as well as take vacations, Vice-Transport Minister Xu Chengguang said at a briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Still, numbers will be lower than pre-pandemic levels – at about 70 per cent of the same period in 2019, he said. 

The holiday in China officially runs from Jan 21 to 27 in 2023.

But the traffic numbers are based on a period of 40 days around the Chinese New Year – typically the busiest season for travel in the country and the biggest annual migration of people on the planet. 

The travel rush could coincide with a peak in Covid-19 infections, Mr Xu said. He warned that this could be the most uncertain and complicated holiday in years.

It will also take time for transport staff to get back up to speed after the disruptions of the pandemic, potentially leading to safety challenges, he said. 

There will be 11,000 flights a day on average, according to Mr Wan Xiangdong, chief pilot at the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Hainan, Beijing, Haikou, Kunming, Chongqing and Chengdu are among the most popular destinations. 

China’s rapid unwinding of its zero-Covid policy has sparked a recovery in the world’s biggest domestic air-travel market.

Chinese New Year bookings are likely to be the highest in three years, travel portal Qunar.com said in a recent report.

Meanwhile, China’s aviation regulator wants air traffic to reach around 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, state media said.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China is looking to “grasp the rhythm of the industry’s recovery and development” in achieving certain volume and traffic figures, broadcaster CCTV reported. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS