Chinese airlines are expected to transport up to 54.55 million passengers during the 40-day Spring Festival travel season, or "Chunyun period" from January 24 to March 3, an increase of 11 percent over the same period last year, according to an estimate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

More than 520,000 flights were operated during the travel peak, an increase of 7 percent year on year. Airlines have deployed sufficient capacity for the holiday travel rush. As of January 18, the aviation authorities have approved 33,000 extra flights on domestic routes, 1,484 extra flights on regional routes to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao and 2,520 on international routes.

During the Spring Festival travel rush, there is no limit on the number of extra cross-strait flights between Taiwan and mainland China except Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou.

CAAC requires all aviation authorities, airlines and airports to give top priority to safe transportation during the Spring Festival period, said Wang Zhiqing, deputy chief of CAAC at the National Civil Aviation Work Conference held on January 19, 2016.

Moreover, he urged the whole sectors to ensure a safe and smooth journey for passengers during the coming peak travel season, and asked airlines and airports to improve contingency plans in case of flight delays.

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