China's international air transport sector saw a sustained recovery in the first quarter, with flight numbers and passenger volumes continuing to climb, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Sunday.

During the period, Chinese and foreign airlines operated an average of 6,395 international passenger flights per week, representing 83.9 percent of the level recorded in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Spring Festival travel rush, weekly flights peaked at 6,960, reaching 91.3 percent of pre-pandemic levels, said Shang Kejia, deputy director of the administration's transport department, at a news conference in Beijing.

Flights between China and 35 countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy, have already exceeded 2019 levels. Flights between China and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have recovered to 94.5 percent of pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the overall average.

Passenger volume also showed strong growth. Chinese airlines transported 18.93 million international traveler trips in the first quarter, up 34 percent year-on-year and 4.5 percent higher than the same period in 2019. Passenger traffic to Northeast Asia rose by 20 percent while West Asia, Central Asia, Europe and Africa by 91 percent, 233 percent, 71 percent and 241 percent, respectively, compared with 2019 figures.

A total of 28 Chinese airlines and 100 foreign airlines are operating international routes linking China with 78 countries — four more than before the pandemic. The network of air routes connecting China with traditional markets in Asia and Europe has continued to improve, while links with Latin America, the South Pacific and Africa have expanded, enhancing international air connectivity.

Shang said China will continue to promote the expansion of international passenger flights. Efforts will focus on optimizing the structure and quality of civil aviation services to traditional markets, such as encouraging airlines to offer differentiated services to better compete, while actively expanding route networks in emerging markets to better serve the BRI.

Passenger and flight volumes are expected to reach a new peak during the upcoming five-day May Day holiday, which begins on Thursday. Travel demand will mainly center on popular destinations such as Japan, South Korea, and countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Shang said.

Improvements in visa facilitation policies and the broader rollout of services such as instant tax refunds for overseas visitors are expected to boost inbound travel, supporting a steady increase in foreign airlines' operations in China.

In response to rising demand, Air China, the country's flagship carrier, recently announced major updates to its international flight network. The airline will launch new routes from Beijing to Cairo and Toronto during the summer and autumn seasons, while also opening services to Vladivostok and Irkutsk.

A new route between Beijing Daxing International Airport and Seoul will begin operations, along with the resumption of flights from Chengdu in Sichuan province to Tokyo and Paris.

To strengthen connectivity with Central Asia, Air China will introduce several new routes in June and July, including Beijing to Tashkent, Urumqi in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to Tashkent, and Beijing to Almaty. These new services are expected to bolster China's BRI and promote broader international cooperation.