China forecasts 19.2 mln air passenger trips during upcoming holiday

China's civil aviation sector is expected to handle 19.2 million passenger trips during the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday starting Wednesday, according to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Sunday.

The country's National Day is celebrated on Oct 1, with the official holiday period running from Oct 1 to 7. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Oct 6, creating a combined holiday period extending from Oct 1 to 8.

"As predicted, the number of passenger trips during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday may reach 19.2 million, an increase of 3.6 percent over the same period last year, marking a record high for the same period in history," said Xiong Jie, chief pilot of the CAAC.

According to Xiong, travelers have grown noticeably more rational in recent years. Many are choosing to set out after the peak, smoothing early-holiday numbers, so the real surge is expected in the second half of the holiday.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival landing on the sixth day of the holiday, most travelers are expected to head home at once, so the last two days of the holiday are expected to deliver the biggest rush of the holiday -- daily numbers could match or even top this summer's record 2.56 million.

Traditionally popular domestic routes remain among top choices, and passenger volume at several small and medium-sized airports in tourist destinations has also been growing rapidly.

Ten international aviation hub cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi'an, Urumqi, and Harbin - are expected to handle 17 million passengers trips.

"Thanks to continuously improved visa-free policies, departure tax refund measures, payment systems, and travel facilitation at China's international gateways, the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday is expected to see a fresh surge in outbound travelers. Short-haul destinations in East and Southeast Asia are anticipated to experience a significant increase in bookings, while travel to South Asia and Europe is also poised to rise noticeably," Xiong said.

China forecasts 19.2 mln air passenger trips during upcoming holiday

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday strongly condemned an Israeli attack on a Lebanese Army patrol that killed two officers and one soldier.

Condemning the attack on the Khardali-Nabatieh road earlier in the day as a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and international laws and norms, Aoun said in a statement that the strike was part of Israel's ongoing escalation, which threatens stability and security in southern Lebanon, despite Beirut's efforts in Washington negotiations to end the ongoing Israeli attacks.

Aoun said the fallen servicemen had joined a long list of military and civilian victims, including children, women, paramedics, rescue workers, and journalists killed in Israeli attacks.

He extended his condolences to the Lebanese Army command and the families of the victims, praising the sacrifices of the officers, soldiers, and other military personnel who had given their lives in defense of the country and its sovereignty.

He stressed that Lebanon would not waver in protecting its land and people. Such attacks, he added, would not deter the country from upholding its full national rights.

Aoun also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities, put an end to the repeated attacks, and ensure respect for relevant international resolutions to preserve Lebanon's security and stability.

On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement confirming the attack and said it had launched an investigation into the incident.

According to the statement, the IDF spotted a vehicle "moving suspiciously" across an "active combat zone" in the Tebnit area of southern Lebanon on Saturday.

The IDF said it had previously received intelligence indicating that Hezbollah militants would open fire on Israeli troops from that area. Citing this intelligence and asserting that the vehicle posed a "threat to Israeli soldiers", the military carried out the strike.

Lebanese president slams Israeli attack killing 3 servicemen