Spring Airlines announced on Dec 2 that it will introduce charter flights between Ningbo, Zhejiang province, and Phuket, Thailand, for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, aiming to provide more travel options for passengers during the annual travel rush.

Operating from Jan 14 to Feb 22, 2025, the flights are scheduled to operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Specifically, Flight 9C7319 will depart from Ningbo at 9:50 am Beijing time and arrive in Phuket at 2:20 pm local time. The returning Flight 9C7320 will leave Phuket at 3:20 pm local time and arrive back in Ningbo at 9:15 pm Beijing time.

The flight are approximately 5 hours one way. Travelers can now secure their seats by purchasing tickets on Spring Airlines' official website or through various platforms. One-way fares from Ningbo to Phuket in January are priced from 1,420 yuan ($194.88), taxes included, while the reverse journey from Phuket to Ningbo starts at 1,284 yuan.

A notable facilitator for Chinese tourists is Thailand's current visa-free entry policy, making travel possible with just a passport and proof of flight or tour booking.

Yang Shipei, general manager of Zhejiang Spring International Travel Agency, said that Spring Airlines has rolled out a series of charter flight plans for this year's eight-day Spring Festival holiday, optimizing flight schedules to enhance the travel experience for Ningbo residents venturing overseas.

In response to the growing interest in winter snow and ice tourism among domestic travelers, the budget carrier is also gearing up to introduce additional flights between Ningbo and Changbai Mountain. Besides Spring Airlines, other airlines are poised to unveil supplementary flight and charter plans for the Spring Festival and the ensuing travel rush in the days ahead.