Shanghai’s aviation hubs have achieved unprecedented passenger volumes during the recent Chinese New Year holiday period, establishing remarkable benchmarks in air travel capacity. According to official data released by Shanghai Airport (Group) Co Ltd, the city’s dual airport system witnessed passenger traffic exceeding 400,000 trips daily throughout the festive season, culminating in three consecutive days of record-breaking performance.
Between February 15 and 23, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport collectively facilitated 3.66 million passenger journeys, averaging 407,000 daily transits. This figure represents a substantial 5.5 percent increase compared to the equivalent period in the previous year, demonstrating sustained growth in China’s aviation sector.
The record-setting streak occurred from February 20 to 22, with each day establishing new historical highs. The airports processed 425,000, 431,000, and finally 438,000 passenger trips on these respective dates, showcasing the system’s capacity to handle extraordinary travel demand.
Concurrently, flight operations reached 22,000 take-offs and landings during the nine-day travel rush, marking a 3.1 percent year-on-year increase in aerial movements. This expanded activity provided significant benefits to Shanghai-based carriers, with China Eastern Airlines emerging as a primary beneficiary of the travel boom.
The airline reported transporting over 4.33 million passengers throughout the extended holiday period, achieving a daily average of 481,000 passenger trips—a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year. The carrier’s operational peak occurred on February 22, with 526,000 passengers transported via 3,287 individual flights, highlighting the concentrated nature of holiday travel patterns.
Industry analysts attribute this surge to multiple factors, including revitalized inbound tourism following recent travel policy relaxations and robust domestic travel demand among Chinese citizens celebrating the traditional Spring Festival with family across different regions.