Recently, a Sichuan Airlines flight from Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu had only one passenger on board, who purchased the ticket for 200 yuan. Some analysts believe that the pessimistic sentiment of the Chinese people towards the economy will have an impact on overall economic activities.
A netizen recently posted a video on social media, stating that after finishing their visit to Jiuzhaigou, they bought a ticket for Sichuan Airlines flight 3U6676 departing at 9:30 pm on February 1st from Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport for only 200 yuan.
The netizen mentioned that before boarding, they received a call from the airline’s counter staff, informing them that this was the last flight to Chengdu that day, with only them as a passenger, allowing for a convenient boarding. Upon boarding, they found that besides three flight attendants, they were the only passenger on the entire plane, giving them a feeling of charter flight.
From the video footage they shared, all passenger seats were empty, and the three flight attendants in Sichuan Airlines uniforms were positioned at different locations in the aisle, conducting pre-flight safety instructions in accordance with procedures.
Public information indicates that it is currently the low travel season in Jiuzhaigou. At present, Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport only maintains one route to and from Chengdu operated by Sichuan Airlines, with two flights per week.
According to information from Jiuzhaigou scenic area’s official website, during the off-peak season policy in effect from November 16, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the ticket price is 80 yuan per person, with a maximum daily reception capacity of 23,000 people.
Jiuzhaigou is located in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, and it is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and national geological park, long regarded as one of the high-end tourist destinations in the southwestern region.
Analysts believe that changes in China’s economic environment from 2024 to 2025 have significantly affected the tourism industry. Rational and conservative consumer spending behavior among residents has led to a downturn in some traditional high-consumption tourism, shifting tourism demand towards high cost-effectiveness, short-distance, and emotional release-oriented trips.
In a survey of affluent Chinese conducted by international management consulting firm Oliver Wyman in July 2025, it was found that Chinese people’s pessimistic sentiment towards the economy is even more severe than during the pandemic, with younger affluent individuals experiencing the most significant “economic malaise”.
Imke Wouters, a partner at Oliver Wyman, stated that the current pessimism among wealthy Chinese individuals regarding the economic outlook is not just a short-term mood but a “fundamental change in mindset”. If someone feels their financial situation is not good, their behavior will change – they may spend less, save more, and be less willing to take risks in investments or consumption. This psychological shift could have an impact on overall economic activities.