Over 410,000 Passengers: Shanghai Airports’ New Spring Festival Rush Record

Statistics reveal that, since the start of the Spring Festival travel rush, the daily passenger flow at Shanghai’s two airports, Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport, has been on an upward trend. It reached 398,000 passengers on February 1, 2025, which was the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, followed by the rising daily figures of 404,000 on February 2, the fifth day, and of 412,000 on February 3, the sixth day. These daily passenger volumes set new historical records at the two airports in Shanghai for three straight days.

During the Spring Festival holiday from January 28, 2025 to February 4, 2025, which is also from New Year's Eve to the seventh day of the first month according to Chinese Lunar Calendar, the two airports in Shanghai served 3.067 million inbound and outbound passengers in total. Among them, Shanghai Pudong International Airport handled 1.975 million passengers while Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport 1.092 million passengers. The average daily flow amounted to 383,000 passengers, representing a 5% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, Shanghai Pudong International Airport accommodated 12,000 flights and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport 6000 flights, with a combined total of 18, 000 flights, also showing a 5% year-on-year growth. 

In the face of the travel rush and surging passenger flow, the two airports in Shanghai made remarkable efforts to enhance airport services, guided by the philosophy of sincerity. They not only upgraded facilitation procedures such as “Easy Security Check”, which allows eligible domestic passengers to enjoy a smoother travel experience without the need for pre-booking at the security checkpoints. Additionally, three one-stop comprehensive service centers for foreign travelers at the two airports in Shanghai offered services in payment, cultural tourism, mobile communication, and transportation. During the Spring Festival holiday, foreign passengers at the two airports had the opportunity to receive small gifts like Spring Festival couplets and  calligraphy of “福“（FU）, symbolizing the blessings of the season from Shanghai airports. During the return peak towards the end of the holiday, closer collaborations were forged with local transport entities. This led to an expansion of late-night public transport services for arriving passengers, more efficient taxi dispatching, and enhanced signage and guidance for online-hailing cabs.

During the period of the Spring Festival travel rush, the two airports in Shanghai, under the cultural brand of “CHINA YOUNG,” meticulously planned and organized a series of activities steeped in strong traditional Chinese characteristics. A variety of outstanding performances, including Chinese music shows, lion dances, and the parade of the Chinese God of Wealth, were staged to offer passengers a rich Chinese cultural experience. Meanwhile, the airport terminals were adorned with Spring Festival decorations, creating a vibrant Chinese New Year atmosphere.

Since the beginning of 2025, the Shanghai Airport Authority has been working closely with airlines to expand the hub route network. For instance, the direct flight to Belgrade, Serbia, was launched, and the flight to Casablanca with a stopover in Marseille was introduced. Moreover, flight frequencies to certain international destinations and domestic cities have been further increased, providing greater travel convenience for passengers during the Spring Festival travel rush.