CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- On January 7, Chongqing Airlines announced its plans for the upcoming 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, which kicks off on January 14. During this period, the airline will operate 5,480 flights, and arrange more than 900 additional services to meet the surge in demand. Chongqing Airlines will enhance its capacity in key regions such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The airline will also open new routes, increase frequencies on popular routes, and resume several key services to cater to a variety of travel needs, including those of vacationers, homebound travelers, and business passengers.

New domestic routes to Xi’an, Zhengzhou, and other cities

In response to the anticipated surge in passenger numbers during the Spring Festival, Chongqing Airlines has optimized its flight network and schedule. The airline will increase capacity on critical routes during peak periods and in high-demand areas. Several new and resumed domestic routes will include flights between Chongqing and Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen, and Hohhot. For example, the Chongqing-Xi’an route will operate daily, with Flight CZ2303 departing from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 10:45 AM, and arriving at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport at 12:00 AM. The return flight, CZ2304, will depart Xi’an at 1:05 PM and arrive back in Chongqing at 2:30 PM. The Chongqing-Zhengzhou route will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, with Flight CZ2185 departing Chongqing at 2:05 PM and arriving in Zhengzhou at 3:50 PM, while the return flight CZ2186 will depart Zhengzhou at 4:50 PM and return to Chongqing at 6:55 PM. (Flight times are subject to actual operations.)

For popular winter tourism destinations like Yunnan and Hainan, Chongqing Airlines will increase flights to destinations such as Xishuangbanna and Haikou to twice daily to accommodate the surge in tourist numbers. For routes originating from other places, the airline will expand services on key return-home routes, especially to the Greater Bay Area, and restore daily services from Huizhou to Nanchong. Additionally, the frequency of routes such as Taizhou-Shenzhen and Guangzhou-Xishuangbanna will be increased to meet growing passenger demand.

Resumption of international routes to Malé, Phuket, and Ho Chi Minh City

Starting January 8, Chongqing Airlines will gradually resume several international routes, strengthening its presence in the South Asian and Southeast Asian markets to better serve both domestic and international travelers. From January 8 to March 29, the airline will resume its Chongqing-Colombo-Malé route, which will operate three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Every Monday and Friday, the outbound flight CZ553 departs from Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 9:55 AM, arriving in Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at 1:50 PM. After a brief stopover, it continues to Malé at 2:55 PM, arriving at the Velana International Airport at 4:00 PM. The return flight CZ554 departs from Malé at 5:20 PM, reaching Colombo at 7:20 PM, and then continues to Chongqing, arriving at 4:30 AM the next day. For Wednesday, the flight schedule is different: the outbound flight CZ553 departs from Chongqing at 9:05 AM and arrives in Colombo at 12:55 PM, continuing to Malé at 1:55 PM and arriving at 3:10 PM. The return flight CZ554 departs from Malé at 5:05 PM, reaching Colombo at 7:15 PM, and then continues to Chongqing at 8:25 PM, arriving at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 4:30 AM the next day. (The above times are local times and are subject to actual operations.)

Additionally, from January 21 to February 8, the airline will resume flights between Chongqing and Ho Chi Minh City, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. From January 18 to February 9, it will also resume flights to Phuket, with daily service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the Spring Festival travel period is expected to see continued high demand across various segments, including family reunions, business travel, student travel, and tourism. Passenger numbers are forecasted to exceed 90 million, potentially setting a new record for the season. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)