Passengers walk through Terminal 2 of Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, on December 31, 2025. Photo: VCG

During the 2026 New Year's Day holiday, South Korea ranked first in flight volume among the top 20 international/regional destinations for travelers from the Chinese mainland, registering a 6.5 percent year-on-year increase from 2025. By contrast, flights to Japan witnessed a sharp 40.5 percent year-on-year plunge, according to data released by Flight Master (DAST), a civil aviation data platform, to the Global Times on Sunday.

Among the top 20, flights to Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and the US increased by more than 20 percent compared to the 2025 holiday period, while those to Cambodia, Russia, the UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore rose by over 10 percent, DAST data showed.

Of the top 20 inbound/outbound routes, 14 exceeded 2025 New Year's levels in terms of flight volume, with six routes growing more than 20 percent year-on-year. 

Notable increases included Shanghai-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, up 60.0 percent, Beijing-Singapore, up 33.3 percent, and Guangzhou-Kuala Lumpur, up 28.3 percent. Declines were seen on Shanghai-Osaka route, down by 34.2 percent year-on-year.

During the three-day New Year's Day holiday period, the average number of inbound and outbound passenger trips each day in China has increased by 28.6 percent compared to the same period last year, making the total number amounting to 6.615 million, official data showed on Sunday.

Global Times