Hainan Airlines' Beoing 737 aircraft takes off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on March 3. [Photo/VCG]
The February airport passenger traffic data for the largest cities in China and the United States has been released, revealing a significant shift in the rankings.
According to the data, Shanghai has surpassed New York in monthly airport passenger throughput for the first time in nearly four years.
This marks a notable reversal from the previous year, where the two cities had a difference of approximately 3 million passengers in monthly airport traffic.
The cumulative passenger throughput for the year's first two months shows Shanghai closing the gap with New York to just 366,300 passengers.
The passenger traffic at Shanghai Pudong International Airport has surged ahead of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport by over 200,000 passengers in February. And Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport's traffic has been close to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
In terms of international passenger traffic, New York experienced a decline of 400,000 passengers compared to the previous month, while Shanghai saw an increase of 259,500 passengers.
There remains a difference of 500,000 passengers in international traffic between the two cities. The proportion of international passengers in Shanghai has also increased by 0.81 percentage points compared to the previous month, while New York has decreased by 1.37 percentage points.
As Shanghai continues to restore and expand its international flight network, its international passenger throughput is poised for further growth in the coming months.
