Air China will begin its 2026 summer-autumn flight schedule from Sunday, adding new routes, increasing flight frequencies and expanding the use of C919 jets, as part of efforts to strengthen its global network and meet rising travel demand.

China's civil aviation system adjusts its schedules twice a year to align with seasonal demand, climate conditions and international daylight-saving changes. The summer-autumn season will run through Oct 24.

Under the new plan, Air China will operate 461 routes, including 110 international and 12 regional routes, covering 198 cities across 49 countries and regions. Daily flights will average 1,766, up about 12 percent year-on-year. International and regional capacity is set to grow even faster, with daily flights reaching 249, up around 15 percent.

A key highlight is the continued expansion of the C919's commercial operations. Positioned as China's first homegrown narrow-body jet entering large-scale service, the aircraft will expand service to Harbin and Xiamen, further extending its operational footprint.

Domestically, the airline will launch six new routes and increase frequencies on more than 80 existing routes, particularly along major corridors linking Beijing and Chengdu with key cities. Domestic capacity is expected to rise by about 9 percent.

Internationally, Air China will increase frequencies on routes such as Beijing–Warsaw, Milan and Budapest, launch new services to Chongqing–Manila and Wenzhou–Jeju, and resume the Beijing–Delhi route, improving cross-border connectivity.

The airline will also enhance its dual-hub strategy in Beijing and Chengdu. In Beijing, operations across Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport will be further optimized, with new international services from Daxing to Frankfurt and Milan, reinforcing its role as a growing global hub.

In Chengdu, coordination between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport will be enhanced to support rising travel demand.

This expansion comes amid a broader recovery in China's civil aviation sector. During this year's 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which concluded earlier this month, the industry handled record passenger volumes—offering a clear signal of rebounding demand and providing strong momentum for airlines to ramp up capacity and refine their international networks.