Shanghai continues to be the nation's largest port of entry for both air and cruise travel, with ongoing efforts to ensure a seamless and efficient travel experience for millions of passengers. [Photo/Shanghai Customs]
Shanghai experienced a significant surge in passenger traffic in 2024, with inbound and outbound numbers nearly doubling from the previous year. According to Shanghai Customs, the total passenger count reached 36.47 million, a 95.3 percent year-on-year increase, driven by policies such as loosened visa-transit restrictions.
Breaking down the figures, 18.09 million passengers entered Shanghai, while 18.39 million departed, marking increases of 95.6 percent and 94.9 percent, respectively. Air passengers accounted for 35.1 million of the total, an 88.4 percent rise, while cruise passengers soared by 2860 percent to 137,400, reinforcing Shanghai's status as the largest port of entry for both air and cruise travel in China.
Hongqiao International Airport has introduced measures to speed up passenger clearance, including offering seamless clearance procedures and a self-service declaration system, improving efficiency and convenience.
On Jan 1, China Eastern Airlines made history by using the C919 aircraft on its "Shanghai Hongqiao-Hong Kong" route, the first-ever commercial flight to use a domestically produced aircraft. Shanghai Customs at Hongqiao Airport coordinated closely with the airline, ensuring smooth operations and implementing seamless clearance and self-service declaration measures for the 157 passengers on the inaugural flight.
"We are proud to support the first-ever flight of the domestically produced aircraft," said Zhang Lei, head of the Passenger Inspection Section II at Hongqiao Airport Customs. "Last year, we supervised 18,000 flights and processed 3.218 million passengers, with increases of 39.2 percent and 51.2 percent, respectively. This year, we will further enhance passenger clearance efficiency, improve the travel experience, and strengthen epidemic prevention capabilities."
