Pudong Airport handles over 25 million passengers in just 8 months

Passengers wait for inspection. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]
Pudong International Airport handled more than 25 million inbound and outbound passengers this year as of Sept 4, reaching the milestone six days earlier than in 2025 to remain China's busiest airport.
More than 2.8 million passengers benefited from the 24-hour visa-free transit policy during the period, underscoring Shanghai's role as an international aviation hub.
As China expands its visa-free network, over 4 million foreign nationals have entered the country through Pudong in 2026, up 21 percent year-on-year. South Koreans formed the largest group, followed by travelers from Russia, the United States, Thailand and Malaysia. More than 60 percent entered under visa-free or transit visa exemption policies.
The increase has been supported by an expanding international flight network. China Eastern Airlines launched Shanghai's first direct service to Dublin, Ireland, in late July and added routes to Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Zurich, Adelaide, and the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Air China also doubled its seasonal Shanghai-London Gatwick service to two flights a day.
Shanghai's airports now serve 53 countries and 302 destinations, both record highs.
More than 7.5 million Chinese mainland residents have travelled abroad through Pudong this year. Immigration authorities are offering multilingual, tailored services to ensure smooth border clearance for major events such as the recently concluded WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and the China International Import Expo in November.
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