The IATA Annual General Meeting 2026 has officially kicked off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here, global aviation leaders are gathering to discuss the future of air travel, airline performance, and market growth.
“China’s aviation market is becoming increasingly important to the global airline industry,” said Xingquan Xie, IATA Regional Vice President for North Asia, at the event.
China Now Accounts For 30% of Global Domestic Passenger Traffic
China now represents 30% of global domestic passenger traffic, measured by revenue passenger kilometers, or RPK, according to data presented at IATA AGM 2026.
This figure points to China being one of the most significant aviation markets in the world. In particular, this is evident as domestic travel demand surges across the country.
China’s international passenger market performed well again in 2025. It had the highest annual growth rate among the world’s top 10 international passenger markets, up 17.5%.
This growth reflects the continued recovery and growth of international travel demand. At the same time, it demonstrates China’s growing role as a connector from Asia to the world.
China’s Aviation Infrastructure Keeps Growing
According to the data presented at the IATA AGM, China has:
- 249 airports that operate scheduled flights
- 4,574 aircraft in the civil aviation fleet
- $115 billion in airline revenue
Additionally, the number of air routes in China increased by 64% between 2015 and 2025. This reflects a significant expansion of both domestic and international connections.
China’s Aviation Market a Key Driver of Global Growth
The growth of China’s aviation market is taking on increasing importance to the global airline industry. With a large domestic market and expanding airport infrastructure, along with strong international passenger growth, China is expected to continue to be a major driver of global aviation demand.
The figures that were presented at IATA AGM 2026 in Rio de Janeiro show the rapid growth of China’s aviation industry over the past 10 years. Moreover, these figures show its growing importance to the future of global air travel.
With the aviation industry continuing to recover and transform after the pandemic, China’s growing network of airports, aircraft and air routes is likely to be an important factor. In particular, China will help shape international aviation trends in the years ahead.
