Ascent Of The Dragon

The aviation market in China is growing at an astounding rate, from brand-new airports to burgeoning airlines

- Valerian Ho

Let’s start with a few numbers: outbound travelers from China are predicted to number 200 million by 2020, according to a 2016 survey from Asian brokerage and investment group CLSA. Factor in the explosion of domestic air travel, as booming business in the Middle Kingdom creates a new middle class of between 300 and 400 million people, and it will come as no surprise that the International Air Transport Association expects China to displace the US as the world’s largest aviation market by 2025.

The major driver comes from domestic travel – of the 3,326 routes operated in China in 2015, 2,666 were internal. However, there’s an increasing appetite for international exploration, with the outbound Chinese market being targeted heavily by everyone in the travel and hospitality industry.

Over the past two decades the country has transformed its aviation offering, with the number of airlines doubling to 48 and rapid growth in route networks. Today nearly every second- and third-tier city in China has an airport – with some boasting more than one.

Yet with airports and airspace already approaching saturation point, as evidenced by the notorious flight delays and cancellations that already create chaos and confusion in departure halls, it’s a race against time to implement the infrastructure needed to handle the staggering projected growth.

Airports – New and improved

In its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), the Chinese government announced its aim to develop the aviation sector, focusing on improving passenger experience and preparing for increased mid- to long-haul international routes. As part of this brief, the target is to build an additional 20 airports across the country by 2020, bringing the total to 260. Last year saw the completion of a number of new facilities in Shandong, Guangdong, Yunnan and Qinghai provinces, with many more under construction.