Chongqing — Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport expects to welcome a record number of travelers during this year's summer travel season, with nearly 9.9 million passengers projected to pass through the airport as airlines expand domestic and international services to meet rising holiday demand.

The airport said the 2026 summer travel season, which runs from July 1 to Aug. 31, is expected to generate about 9.87 million passenger trips and approximately 66,000 aircraft movements. Passenger throughput on the busiest day is forecast to exceed 170,000, setting a new record for the airport. On the 10th day of the summer travel season, passenger volume is expected to surpass 160,000.

The increase is being driven by strong demand for graduation trips, family vacations and leisure travel, with both domestic tourism and outbound travel continuing to gain momentum.

Travelers fill the Terminal 3A departure hall at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport on July 10. (Photo/Luo Bin)

To accommodate the surge, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport has coordinated with its hub airline and other airlines based there to optimize its route network and increase capacity. More than 100 additional daily round-trip flights are planned throughout the summer travel season, representing an increase of about 9% from a year earlier.

China's major carriers are expanding their operations in Chongqing by launching new routes and increasing flight frequencies to popular destinations across the country.

Air China plans to launch six new routes from Chongqing this month, connecting the city with Bozhou, Wuyishan, Jiaxing, Dalian, Mangshi and Qingdao. The airline will also increase frequencies to more than 20 destinations, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hohhot, Changchun, Fuzhou, Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Haikou, Dalian, Zhuhai and Hefei, bringing its average daily operation in Chongqing to 175 flights, up 40% from a year earlier.

Beginning July 15, Hainan Airlines will introduce new services linking Chongqing with Hohhot, Nanjing, Ningbo, Dalian, Qingdao and Harbin, while adding more flights to Shenzhen, Wenzhou, Urumqi, Fuzhou, Beijing and Haikou.

Chongqing Airlines plans to operate more than 8,500 flights during the summer travel season. It will launch, resume or increase services to Xining, Urumqi, Yining, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Sanya, Harbin, Changchun, Beihai, Zhanjiang, Dali and Lijiang, adding more than 1,200 flights during July and August.

West Air will open eight new routes to Bengbu, Jingdezhen, Dalian, Datong, Huangshan, Hami, Shiyan and Turpan while increasing frequencies on several existing routes. China Express Airlines will launch or resume services to Hohhot, Ganzhou, Xichang, Shangrao, Yinchuan, Jinchang and Zhangjiakou, while adding flights to several other destinations.

Children traveling alone check in at the unaccompanied minor service area in Terminal 3A of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport on July 10. (Photo/Luo Bin)

The airport said expanded airline capacity is expected to help keep ticket prices competitive during the summer travel season. Over the next month, one-way domestic base fares before taxes start at 220 yuan ($31) on selected routes. Direct international flights from Chongqing to destinations including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Chiang Mai and Kota Kinabalu start at 613 yuan ($86), including taxes. One-way fares to Hong Kong and Macao begin at 817 yuan, while direct flights to London, Budapest, Brussels, Rome, Milan and Moscow start at 1,693 yuan, including taxes.

International services are expected to remain a key driver of growth. During the summer travel season, the airport plans to operate 40 international and regional passenger routes with more than 250 weekly flights, increasing international and regional passenger capacity by 43.5% from a year earlier. The network serves destinations including Seattle, London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Budapest, Brussels, Moscow, Doha, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi.

According to the airport, Chinese ordinary passport holders can travel visa-free to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines under each country's current entry policies. Travelers are advised to check the latest official requirements before departure.

A volunteer assists passengers with check-in at the Terminal 3A departure hall of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport on July 10. (Photo/Luo Bin)

The airport's international business has continued to expand this year. During the first six months of 2026, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport handled 1.485 million international and regional passengers, an increase of 40% year over year, the fastest growth rate among China's 10 busiest airports. Transfer passenger volume reached 2.43 million, up 21.88% from a year earlier, while international transfer passengers climbed more than 50% to 435,000, ranking among the country's leading airports. Air cargo and mail throughput rose 60.5% compared with the first half of 2025, highlighting the airport's growing role as a major international aviation hub in western China.