Chinese airlines cancel flights to Thailand due to low tourist numbers

Several Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, have cancelled flights to Thailand for December and January due to lower-than-expected bookings.

Key Points

• Several Chinese airlines have cancelled flights to Thailand for December and January due to lower-than-expected bookings, reflecting China’s economic slowdown and focus on domestic tourism.
• The free visa initiative for Chinese nationals did not significantly boost the Chinese market, indicating that economic issues within China are a primary factor in the decline of Chinese tourists.
• Chinese arrivals to Thailand have only recovered to around 40% compared to pre-Covid times, and the upcoming Chinese New Year bookings remain uncertain, requiring further observation.

The cancellations are attributed to China’s economic slowdown and efforts to boost domestic tourism. Initiatives like granting free…