File photo:Air China

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Saturday that it aims to significantly increase the number of direct flights between China and the US in 2024, which market observers said will facilitate people-to-people connectivity. It's the latest move by the Chinese aviation regulator to steadily implement the consensus and vision reached by the leaders of the two countries at the San Francisco summit last year.

CAAC data showed that regular direct passenger flights between China and the US have risen to 63 per week, a notable boost to bilateral exchanges between the world's top two economies. 

According to a previous announcement, direct flights between China and the US are expected to rise to 70 a week during the winter/spring season, which began on November 9, from 48 in the previous season, with equivalent round-trips increasing to 35 from 24.

Market observers said that the gradual uptick in direct flights will facilitate people-to-people exchanges and cross-border business activity, adding more positivity to bilateral relations. 

As China-US relations have improved recently, with economic and trade ties strengthened as well as educational and cultural cooperation recovered, there will be growing market demand for direct flights, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Sunday.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made remarks at a reception held in Beijing to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US. Wang said both sides should continue to make full use of the mechanisms restored or established in the fields of diplomacy, economy, finance, commerce and agriculture to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Peace is the most fundamental cornerstone of bilateral ties, Wang said, noting that win-win cooperation is the most essential feature of China-US exchanges, according to the Xinhua News Agency's report.

However, the resumption of flights between China and the US should be reciprocal, China's increase in direct flights should also facilitate the US side's consideration of how to promote economic, trade and cultural exchanges in the field of aviation, Zhou said, while taking note of the uncertainties brought by the upcoming US presidential election.

The CAAC is also vigorously promoting the resumption of international flights. According to the administration, China's international flights in 2023 recovered to more than 4,600 per week, an increase of 9.6 times compared with the beginning of the year. 

The administration also gave high priority to flight facilitation between China and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, saying that it will actively expand air traffic rights arrangements with BRI partner countries, deepening cooperation with Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.