Airports in China

By the end of 2017, there are more than 200 airports in China, and the number is increasing every year. At present, there are a total of 76 international airports in use in China, including 70 in mainland China and 6 in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Among them, Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport are the world’s top 10 busiest airports in 2017. In September 2019, Beijing Daxing International Airport will begin trial operation, which aims to ease the pressure of overcrowding at Beijing capital international airport. Here we offer you the related information below on the major airports in China frequently used by most travelers. You can also check more information about All Airports in China and All International Airports List in China.

Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Airport was opened on 2 March 1958. It has overtaken Tokyo Haneda to be the busiest airport in Asia based on scheduled seat capacity. The airport has three terminals. Terminal 1 serves the domestic routes of Hainan Airlines and its subsidiaries. Terminal 2 serves China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, SkyTeam (excluding Alitalia and China Airlines), and other domestic and international flights. Terminal 3, the newest terminal, serves Air China, Star Alliance, and some other domestic and international flights that do not operate from either Terminals 1 or 2. Read more about Beijing Capital International Airport.

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Beijing Daxing International Airport

Due to limited capacity at Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport has been planned. It will begin trial operation in September 2019 and is expected to be open on September 30, 2019. After completion, it will become the country’s biggest airport and the World’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic with more passengers. Located 65 kilometers from the existing Beijing Capital International Airport, and is expected to serve Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Upon the opening of the new airport, Beijing Nanyuan Airport (currently solely served by China United Airlines) will be closed. Read more about Beijing Daxing International Airport.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Being one of two international airports of Shanghai and a major aviation hub of China, the airport mainly serves international flights. It is located about 30 kilometres east of the city center. The airport is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and a major international hub for Air China, as well as secondary hub of China Southern Airlines. It is also the hub for privately owned Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines. By the end of 2016, Pudong Airport hosted 104 airlines serving more than 210 destinations. Reading more about Shanghai Pudong International Airport. 

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Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

The construction of Hongqiao airport was started in 1921. In May 1923, the airport was opened for mixed civilian use. Hongqiao Airport mainly serves domestic and regional flights, as well as five international routes to central Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, central Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport, central Taipei Songshan Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, and Macau’s Macau International Airport. It is a hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines. By the end of 2011 Hongqiao Airport hosted 22 airlines serving 82 scheduled passenger destinations. 

Hong Kong International Airport

  • IATA: PVG;
  • ICAO: ZSPD
  • Add: on the island of Chek Lap Kok

Also colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport, it is an important regional trans-shipment centre, passenger hub and gateway for destinations in Mainland China(with 45 destinations) and the rest of Asia. It is a focus city for many airlines, including China Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. Singapore Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and Air India utilise Hong Kong as a stopover point for their flights. More than 100 airlines operate flights from the airport to over 180 cities across the globe. It is also home to one of the world’s largest passenger terminal buildings (the largest when opened in 1998). Read more about Hong Kong International Airport.

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Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

  • IATA: CAN;
  • ICAO: ZGGG
  • Add: Baiyun–Huadu Districts

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the major airport of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, China. The old Baiyun Airport opened in 1932 and the new one opened on August 5, 2004. It serves as a hub for China Southern Airlines, FedEx Express, 9 Air, Hainan Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines. In 2017, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport was China’s third-busiest and world’s 13th-busiest airport with 65,806,977 passengers handled. Read more about Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

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Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

It is a hub for Shenzhen Airlines and Shenzhen Donghai Airlines and for cargo airline SF Airlines, and a focus city for China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines. The airport also serves as an Asian-Pacific cargo hub for UPS Airlines. It is one of the three largest airport hubs serving the Pearl River Delta, alongside Hong Kong International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Up to now, there are 107 flights flying to about 80 domestic and international destinations including Macau, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Osaka, Soul, Bangkok, Singapore, etc. Read more about Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

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Xian Xianyang International Airport

In 2018, the airport handled 44,650,000 passengers, making it the busiest airport in northwest China and the 7th busiest nationwide. It is a the base for China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Joy Air and Hainan Airlines. At present, it has established air business contacts with 62 domestic and foreign airlines, including 313 international (regional) routes connecting 29 countries, 53 hubs and famous tourist cities. Eight airport bus routes connect the airport well with the Xi’an and Xianyang city. Read more about Xian Xianyang International Airport.

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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Shuangliu airport is an important aviation hub for Western China. It is one of the two core hubs for Air China, together with Beijing, as well as the main hub and headquarters for Sichuan Airlines and Chengdu Airlines. China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines,  Shenzhen Airlines, Lucky Air and Tibet Airlines also have bases at Shuangliu Airport. It is the fourth-busiest in mainland China, and the busiest in western China. There are altogether 241 routes, 78 of which are international routes. Sichuan Airlines and Air China have many international routes in this airport. Read more about Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

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Kunming Changshui International Airport

  • IATA: KMG;
  • ICAO:ZPPP
  • Add: Changshui Village, Guandu District, 24.5 km northeast of the city center

Changshui Airport opened at 08:00 on June 28, 2012, replacing the old Kunming Wujiaba International Airport. As a gateway to Southeast and South Asia, the airport is a hub for China Eastern Airlines, Kunming Airlines, Lucky Air, Sichuan Airlines and Ruili Airlines. At present, it has opened nearly 300 routes, reaching more than 130 cities at home and abroad. Read more about Kunming Changshui International Airport. 

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Other Airports in China

For more airports, please check the list below.

Keep Reading

Read more about Transportation in China.