Shanghai’s two airports see historic daily passenger traffic surge during china’s holiday

During China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday from October 1 to October 8, 2025, Shanghai’s two major airports, Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport, recorded unprecedented passenger traffic, marking a new historic high for the holiday period.

Over the holiday, the two international airports together accommodated 19,000 aircraft movements. Specifically, Pudong International Airport processed 13,000 movements, while Hongqiao Airport handled 6,000, resulting in a daily average of 2,448 aircraft movements and increasing 6.0% year-on-year. In terms of passenger volume, the two airports handled a combined 3.251 million inbound and outbound passengers during the holiday, with Pudong Airport processing 2.066 million and Hongqiao International Airport serving 1.185 million. Notably, the average daily passenger flow reached 406,000, up 9.3% year-on-year, setting a new historic traffic high during the National Day holiday.

 

China’s 8-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday fueled a surge in travel demand, which catalyzed growth in both outbound travel and long-haul domestic trips. In addition, China’s expanded visa-free policies have drawn more foreign visitors to Shanghai, a top tourist destination for international travelers.

 

Shanghai’s two major airports took "Chinese red" as the core of their holiday decor, adorning key areas with national flags and traditional Chinese lanterns. These festive elements spanned the elevated road system leading to the airports, check-in counters, and security checking channels, infusing the entire space with a warm, joyful atmosphere that deeply resonated with travelers.

"China Young", a cultural brand of Shanghai Airport dedicated to promoting Chinese culture, further enhanced holiday festivity with targeted cultural events. To showcase China’s cultural heritage, Shanghai’s two major airports, Pudong and Hongqiao, organized tailored activities, including flash mob performances themed “National Celebration & Family Reunion", reflecting both the festivity of National Day and the cultural essence of Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as parades featuring Hanfu, a typical style of traditional Chinese attire.

A multilingual volunteer team composed of 156 young staff from Shanghai Airport officially started its service on October 1, 2025 to enhance travel convenience for foreign travelers. Stationed in the public areas of the international arrivals at both Pudong and Hongqiao Airports, the team provides multilingual assistance in English, French, German, and Japanese, covering travel inquiries and dedicated support for mobile-related needs. As of the latest update, the team has received widespread praise from international passengers for its professional and thoughtful service.