Ruth Haines
China is home to some of the world's busiest airports, with a high volume of passenger traffic, aircraft movements, and cargo movements. As of 2024, there were 259 certified civil airports and 106 certified general airports in Mainland China, including Hong Kong and Macau. Beijing Capital International Airport is Asia's busiest airport, with over 70 airlines flying to 200 global cities. Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, and Hong Kong International Airport are other major airports in China, serving as hubs for various airlines and offering destinations worldwide. Air China, one of China's flag carriers, operates direct routes to and from the United States, contributing to the extensive air travel network in and out of the country.
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What You'll Learn
Beijing Capital International Airport
The airport is served by the Capital Airport Express, a dedicated rail link operated as part of the Beijing Subway system. It also offers 20 inter-city bus routes and 5 intra-province bus routes. Shuttle buses connect the airport's three terminals.
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Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Hongqiao Airport is a hub for several airlines, including China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. In May 2025, there were 25 airlines operating from the airport, flying to 105 airports around the world. The airport covers an area of 82,000 square meters, with 15 waiting halls, 18 VIP lounges, and 15 luggage-conveying belts. It accommodates an average of over 300 aircraft movements per day.
The airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles both domestic and international flights, while Terminal 2 is dedicated to domestic flights. Terminal 2 is four times the size of Terminal 1 and houses 90% of all the airlines at the airport. Terminal 1, the older of the two, was opened to the public in 1964 and was advanced for its time, offering various modern facilities.
Hongqiao Airport has a rich history, dating back to its construction in 1921. It opened for mixed civilian use in May 1923 and has served as a significant airport in Shanghai for many decades. It was once Shanghai's primary airport until the completion of Pudong International Airport in 1999, when most international flights were gradually relocated.
Today, Hongqiao Airport remains an important aviation hub in China, handling 42,492,745 passengers in 2023, making it the 7th busiest airport in China and 43rd busiest worldwide.
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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
The airport has a rich history, initially opening as a military-owned airport during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938. Back then, its runway could only accommodate small biplanes. Chengdu civil aviation flights operated from Shuangliu Airport starting in 1957, connecting Chengdu to various cities within China, including Beijing, Xi'an, and Chongqing. A significant expansion took place between 1994 and 2001, transforming it into an international gateway airport. This expansion included extending the runway and constructing a new terminal building, enhancing its capacity and ability to handle larger aircraft.
In recent years, with the opening of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in 2021, some international and cargo routes have been shifted away from Shuangliu Airport. However, Shuangliu Airport continues to play a significant role in domestic air travel, mainly operating domestic flights. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport remains a vital aviation hub in Western China, offering efficient and accessible air transportation to travellers within the region and beyond.
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Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
The airport is a hub for Loong Air and Xiamen Airlines, and a focus city for major airlines such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines. It offers flights to 86 domestic cities and 35 international and regional destinations, including cities in East and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Africa, Europe, and South Asia.
The airport has undergone several expansion projects to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. Phase Two of the expansion, which began in 2007, included the construction of the International Terminal, a second Domestic Terminal, and a new runway. With the completion of Phase III in 2022, the airport is poised to become the second-largest aviation hub in East China.
In 2017, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport handled 35,570,411 passengers, ranking tenth in China for passenger traffic. It also held the sixth position in terms of cargo volume, handling 589,461.6 tonnes of cargo.
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Hong Kong International Airport
The airport is the primary hub for several airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Greater Bay Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express, and Air Hong Kong (a cargo carrier). It is also a focus city for many other airlines, such as China Air, China Eastern, and China Southern. Hong Kong International Airport has a total of 89 boarding gates, with 77 jet bridge gates and 12 virtual gates. Five of these gates are capable of handling the Airbus A380, with current users of this aircraft type including Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines.
The airport has experienced some disruptions, such as during the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests when it was shut down multiple times due to demonstrations, resulting in the cancellation of over 160 flights. However, the airport continues to expand and upgrade its facilities, with the recent opening of a third runway in July 2022, as part of the Hong Kong International Airport Master Plan 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the major airports in China:
- Beijing Capital International Airport
- Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
- Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest airport in Asia, with over 70 airlines flying to more than 200 cities worldwide.
Some of the airlines that operate in China include:
- Air China
- China Southern Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- Xiamen Airlines
- Loong Air
