China's international air transport sector reported steady growth in the first quarter of this year, with flight volumes and passenger numbers continuing to climb, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China on Sunday.

In that time, Chinese and foreign airlines operated an average of 6,395 international passenger flights per week, 83.9 percent of the 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Spring Festival travel rush, weekly flights reached 6,960, 91.3 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

Passenger volume also surged, with Chinese airlines transporting about 18.93 million international traveler trips, up 34 percent year-on-year and 4.5 percent higher than in 2019.

So far, a total of 28 Chinese and 100 foreign airlines are operating international routes to 78 countries — four more than before the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding China's global air connectivity.