Positive signs

China announced on Aug 10 the resumption of group tours to 78 countries and regions, including the US, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia.

Last month, an economic work meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee called for an increase in the number of international flights in the second half of this year.

Due to the pandemic, international flights to and from China were greatly reduced.

In March 2020, China introduced the "circuit breaker" policy — suspending flights operated by an airline for two weeks if five or more passengers tested positive for COVID-19 upon landing in China, or for four weeks if 10 or more passengers tested positive.

Only a very small number of international passenger flights continued to operate during the pandemic. Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China show that in August 2021, the number of flights to and from China was about 2.15 percent of the volume recorded in 2019.

The number of international flights has risen gradually since January, as China optimized its response measures to COVID-19 and promoted the resumption of cross-border air travel.

As of Aug 11, the number of international passenger trips made this year, including those to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, exceeded 3.5 million at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The airport's international network now extends to 204 destinations in 47 countries and regions, and includes more than 30 routes.

Yu Jiangning, duty manager at the airport's operations control center, said, "The number of international flights has risen since January, and this trend has continued during the summer holiday season."

Feng Liwei, who also works at the center, said: "I am very happy to see the airport crowded again. During the pandemic, it was so quiet."

At Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, the number of inbound and outbound international passenger trips for this year exceeded 1 million as of Aug 9.

The Hongqiao Border Inspection Station said an average of 7,600 passengers a day pass through the airport. During peak periods, the number can reach 10,000.