Chongqing- Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport anticipates a record 5.6 million passengers during the 2024 Spring Festival rush, from January 26 to March 5, marking an 18.5% and 23.4% rise in flights and passengers compared to last year.

West Air aircraft are parked at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. (Photo/West Air)

Chen Wenchang, deputy manager of the marketing department of Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd., underscored the growth in international and regional flights, noting easier access to Thailand and Malaysia due to visa-free policies for Chinese tourists. He also stressed the need for travelers to renew passports with less than six months of validity.

International airlines ramp up flights to popular destinations such as Phuket, Nha Trang, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui. Additionally, special chartered flights to Langkawi are scheduled for early February.

International airlines are ramping up their offerings with additional and more frequent flights. (Graphic/Zheng Ran)

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport currently operates 21 international routes, including over 100 weekly flights to major cities like London, Rome, Budapest, Sydney, Doha, and Singapore. This extensive network is set to facilitate leisure, business, and study trips during the festival.

Domestically, top routes include Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou to Chongqing. Airlines like Air China are increasing their capacity with wide-body aircraft to accommodate the surge.

Also, airlines are ramping up their offerings with additional and more frequent flights on popular routes. Sichuan Airlines is introducing a daily flight from Chongqing to Qionghai and increasing flights to Xining with four more weekly services.

Chongqing's popularity is evident in OTA (Online Travel Agents) platforms like Ctrip, with inbound routes from major cities being highly sought after and outbound routes to tourist favorites like Haikou, Sanya, and Harbin gaining traction.

Jiangbei International Airport is launching tailored services for new flyers, seniors, those with infants, and disabled passengers, offering guided help, special check-in, security lanes, and priority boarding. A 24-hour hotline, "966666," and on-site booking are available for these enhanced services.

The airport has also set up free overnight rest areas in the T3 and T2A Terminal buildings, with amenities like blankets, baggage storage, e-libraries, and charging stations.

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport offers free overnight rest areas in the T3 and T2A Terminals, complete with blankets, baggage storage, e-libraries, and charging stations. (Graphic/ Vivian Yan)

Yang Peng, a staff of the command center of the Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd., announced the addition of 21 remote aircraft stands and expanded taxiways, bringing the total aircraft parking stands to 220 in anticipation of the Spring Festival travel rush.

Starting January 1, the cut-off time for domestic flights has been shortened from 45 to 40 minutes before departure, with select express flights having a 30-minute cut-off, giving travelers extra time for pre-flight procedures.

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is ready to manage the anticipated increase in passengers during the 2024 Spring Festival, aiming for a seamless and pleasant travel experience for millions.