China's civil aviation industry is gearing up for a busy winter-spring season, commencing Sunday and running until March 29, 2025, with expectations for a steady and orderly increase in international flights, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Friday.

This season brings an expected weekly volume of 118,000 passenger and cargo flights across 194 domestic and international airlines - up 1.2 percent from the previous winter-spring season, the CAAC said.

Internationally, the administration has approved 178 airlines' applications to fly 19,327 weekly flights connecting China to 79 countries. The routes now encompass 57 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, with major expansions in Latin America, Africa and North America.

Notably, American carriers are ramping up services, such as United Airlines increasing from four to seven flights weekly between Los Angeles and Shanghai. China's major airlines are adding routes as well, with Air China launching flights from Urumqi to Tbilisi, and China Eastern re-establishing its Shanghai-to-Cairo route.

With increased flights and broader destination choices, China's civil aviation sector is positioned for a season of growth, connecting travelers domestically and internationally with greater frequency and expanded access to emerging markets.