Trip.com focuses on personalized domestic travel; China Express bets on subsidized routes, home-grown jets as path to profits.
China is experiencing a rural tourism boom amid the Covid-19 pandemic; Duty-free discounts fueling greater travel spending.
Chinese-owned Trip.com, one of the world's largest online travel agencies, said by March 2021, rural tourism trips in China had increased year-on-year by more than 300%.
Flights business remains an important strategic component of the Connected Trip vision across Booking Holdings.
Trip.com Group's Star Hub channel launches with over 100 leading travel partners on board; Pilot travel bubble across Taiwan Straits postponed.
The aim is to transform partners' roles from suppliers to marketers and operators.
WHO approves first Chinese Covid vaccine for emergency use; China slightly eases international flight suspension rules.
Europe’s medicines watchdog has started reviewing China’s Sinovac coronavirus jab; China's first comic-themed park opens.