During the coming winter-spring season, 31 new international air routes will be added in China, including middle and long haul routes, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Thursday.

They will include 23 passenger routes and eight cargo routes and the winter-spring season plan will be carried out from Oct 27 to March 29.

During the season, 17 Chinese airlines will run 4,798 international flights weekly and 109 foreign airlines from 56 countries also will operate 4,786 flights to China each week.

In the domestic market, the number of flights will increase by 7.1 percent compared to the same season last year and 84 new routes will be launched.

"The usage of the regional airports will be improved in the coming flight season," according to CAAC.

The authority encouraged airlines to assign their flights to regional airports to relieve the pressure on the main airports.