The flight path of an aircraft is termed an air traffic route, commonly referred to as a flight route. A flight route not only specifies the direction, origin, destination, and stopover points but also defines the route width and altitude based on air traffic control requirements to maintain order and ensure flight safety. The route network, composed of airports, aircraft, and other elements, serves as a prerequisite for airline operational plans such as flight schedules and crew assignments. It critically impacts airlines' operational efficiency and service quality, forming the foundation for their survival and development. Simultaneously, the accessibility of air routes reflects the vibrancy of urban business and tourism activities to some extent, thereby correlating with urban primacy and economic potential.
Based on origin and destination points, flight routes can be classified into three major categories: international routes, domestic routes, and regional routes.
- International routes connect two or more countries;
- Domestic routes operate within a single country and are further categorized into trunk routes, branch routes, and local routes;
- Regional routes link general regions with special administrative regions within a country, such as routes between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan.
The CnOpenData team has compiled flight information for domestic cities in China, providing key fields such as route, departure city (出发地), destination city (目的地), flight number (航班号), departure time (出发时间), arrival time (到达时间), departure airport (出发机场), and arrival airport (到达机场), facilitating related research endeavors.
Time Coverage
February 2023
Field Description
Sample Data
Relevant Literature
- Hanming Fang, Long Wang and Yang Yang. 2023, "Competition and Quality: Evidence from High-Speed Railways and Airlines", The Review of Economics and Statistics.
Data Update Frequency
Quarterly updates