Chongqing - Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport hit three significant milestones this summer. On August 10, the airport set a new record with 1,051 daily flights and a peak passenger count of 160,400. Additionally, August’s total passenger numbers reached a historic high of 4.48 million.

This summer, the airport has welcomed approximately 8.87 million passengers, a 3% increase from last year. Flight operations have hit 59,000, a 0.6% rise, and cargo and mail throughput has reached 77,000 tons, marking a 16.3% increase. The average seat occupancy rate has also risen by 3.3 percentage points to 87.6%.

On August 30, travelers were getting ready to board their flights in the departure hall at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. (Photo/Luo Bin)

The passenger flow primarily consists of round-trip domestic travelers to major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, with significant traffic also seen in Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Yunnan province.

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport has expanded its network with new direct flights to Jakarta, Penang, and Moscow and enhanced services to Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong. The airport now offers 27 international (regional) routes with 155 weekly flights. Its international passenger capacity is set to reach 374,000, marking an 86.8% increase from 2023.

A staff handles handover procedures for unaccompanied children with parents at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. (Photo/Luo Bin)

During the summer season, over 160,000 passengers traveled to Southeast Asian destinations, including Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang. The occupancy rate for routes to Seattle, Madrid, Milan, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang exceeded 80%.

To meet summer security demands, the airport has introduced "human-code interconnection" verification technology at T2 and T3 terminals. This system has handled over 35,000 temporary travel certificates, moving from manual checks to automated verification.

A security checker verifies temporary air travel certificates using the "human-code interconnection" technology. (Photo/Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)

The system scans QR codes to compare names, documents, and portraits for accuracy. Discrepancies trigger alerts to the security system. This technology improves security efficiency and accuracy, enhancing the travel experience and passenger safety.

According to airport security officials, this technology, the first of its kind in civil aviation, is cost-effective and replicable. It has potential applications in other verification settings, such as bus stations and passenger terminals.

Looking ahead, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is offering discounted fares for domestic and international destinations. One-way tickets to major Chinese cities start at 280 yuan (about USD 39.4), while flights to Southeast Asia begin at 668 yuan and to intercontinental destinations at 2,189 yuan.

Travelers are encouraged to book early for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day periods, with specific flight information and prices available upon inquiry.