Ningbo Lishe International Airport in eastern China is taking flight with new direct routes to Southeast Asia, promising a summer travel boom for residents seeking international experiences.
The airport resumed direct flights to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on August 1, and launched the first flight to Sabah the next day. These new routes have increased travel options for tourists looking to explore Malaysia and beyond.
"Because this flight is convenient, we decided to go to Malaysia. It is very convenient because it is a direct flight and there is no need to change planes," said He Rui, one of the tourists.
Chen Xiaohua, political commissar of the Ningbo airport border checkpoint, told China Central Television (CCTV) that outbound tourism has surged recently with the increase in international flights and the summer season.
"Since July, our arrivals and departures have exceeded 90,000. And since August, our daily departures have averaged more than 1,800 per day, an increase of 36 percent over the same period last year," he said.
Ningbo Int'l Airport expands Southeast Asia routes as summer travel peaks
The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.2 percent year on year in May, marking its highest level since May 2023, as energy prices remained high, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.
Notably, the energy index for May increased 3.9 percent month on month, accounting for over 60 percent of headline inflation.
Gasoline and fuel oil prices increased 40.5 percent and 58.9 percent year on year, respectively, in May.
The national average price of gasoline reached 4.555 U.S. dollars per gallon on May 20, a 50 percent rise since the Iran conflict started in February, according to data released by the American Automobile Association. The price later eased to 4.151 dollars per gallon on Wednesday.
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased 2.9 percent year on year in May.
Statistics show that U.S. headline CPI for May rose 0.5 percent month on month, down from 0.6 percent in April, while core CPI increased 0.2 percent, compared with a 0.4 percent gain in April and below the market consensus forecast of 0.3 percent.
The report arrives at a critical juncture for markets and Federal Reserve policymakers. While the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its June 17 meeting, policymakers acknowledged that the inflation surge caused by the Iran conflict will likely delay any rate reduction. The data are likely to reinforce this stance.
Oil prices rose while U.S. stocks traded lower in the morning session on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal" and will "have to pay the price."
U.S. May CPI rises to highest level since May 2023
