China's civil aviation sector reported stable growth across major indicators in the first quarter of 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said at a press conference in Beijing on Sunday.
The CAAC said that the industry achieved a total transportation turnover of 38.59 billion tonne-km in the January-March period.
During the period, passenger traffic stood at 190 million, a year-on-year increase of 4.9 percent. Cargo and mail volume hit 2.243 million tonnes, up 11.7 percent year on year, said the CAAC.
The sector completed 3.584 million flight hours and 1.36 million flights in the same period, up 4.8 percent and 2.6 percent year on year, respectively.
The country's civil aviation sector reported no accidents in the period.
"In the first quarter, a total of 1,581,000 flights were operated, averaging 17,564 flights per day, reflecting a 7.3 percent year-on-year increase. The flight punctuality rate stood at 94.5 percent, up 4.9 percentage points compared with the flight punctuality rate achieved in the same period of last year," said Li Yong, deputy director of the administration's Office of Aviation Safety.
During the upcoming May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5, the civil aviation market is expected to maintain stable growth.
Passenger traffic is estimated to hit 10.75 million, with an average 2.15 million air passenger trips per day, marking an eight percent year-on-year increase compared to 2024 and setting a new record for the period.
China's civil aviation sector reports stable growth in Q1
China's civil aviation sector reports stable growth in Q1
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
