Air travel and flight capacity within China are showing first signs of recovery, according to press statements from travel analytics companies ForwardKeys and Cirium. While this could mean travel players in specific locations in China can look forward to a rebound in the coming months, international air recovery remains uncertain.

ForwardKeys was cautious to speak of international travel recovery with the continued restrictions of flights in and out of China. Cirium, however, painted a more positive picture, citing the return in China’s domestic air travel capacity as a “beacon of hope” for global aviation recovery, said Rob Morris, head-consultancy, Ascend by Cirium.

Oliver Ponti, vice president insights, ForwardKeys, said that the domestic recovery is a positive sign for hoteliers with “properties and clientele in the right parts of (China)”, who can now “look forward to welcoming guests again”.

Moving forward, ForwardKeys expects inbound domestic travel to Shenzhen and Hainan Island to be indicative of recovery trends, considering that flight arrivals picked up in both areas early on, in the third week of February.