{"id":163080,"date":"2026-11-01T15:13:23","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T09:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=163080"},"modified":"2026-11-01T15:14:24","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T09:44:24","slug":"guangzhou-overtakes-shanghai-as-chinas-busiest-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/11\/01\/guangzhou-overtakes-shanghai-as-chinas-busiest-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Guangzhou Overtakes Shanghai as China\u2019s Busiest Airport"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)<\/a>, serving Guangzhou, has reclaimed its position as China’s busiest airport after handling more than 67 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026. The airport recorded strong passenger growth following a major expansion completed in October 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baiyun overtook Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), which handled 66.58 million passengers during the same period. The comeback followed a 53.77-billion-yuan (approximately US$8.1 billion) expansion project that introduced a new Terminal 3 and a fifth runway, increasing the airport’s annual passenger capacity to 120 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Guangzhou
Photo: ACI World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Overtakes Shanghai Pudong<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the Guangzhou Municipal Statistics Bureau, Baiyun Airport handled 67.0905 million passengers between January and September 2026, representing a 9.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airport moved ahead of Shanghai Pudong<\/a>, which recorded 66.58 million passengers during the first nine months of the year. The difference amounted to approximately 510,500 passengers, placing Baiyun ahead in China’s airport passenger rankings for the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baiyun’s latest performance marks a significant recovery after Shanghai Pudong overtook it in 2024 and maintained its lead in 2025. The airport’s growth has been supported by additional terminal capacity, expanded runway infrastructure, and stronger international connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By Jacky Cheung – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=92329000<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

$8.1 Billion Expansion Increases Airport Capacity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The airport completed its third-phase expansion project after approximately five years of construction. The project required an investment of 53.77 billion yuan, equivalent to approximately US$8.1 billion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expansion included the construction of Terminal 3, a fifth runway and supporting airport infrastructure. Terminal 3 and the fifth runway officially entered service on October 30, 2025, establishing Baiyun’s five-runway and three-terminal operating configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new infrastructure increased the airport’s designed annual passenger handling capacity to 120 million. Its cargo handling capacity also increased to 3.8 million tonnes annually, with the long-term expansion plan targeting 140 million passengers and six million tonnes of cargo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terminal 3 features a main terminal building and three concourses. The main building handles departing, arriving and connecting passengers, with facilities for check-in, security screening, customs, baggage collection and transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terminal’s transportation centre also integrates air, rail and road connections. It includes six platforms and 14 railway lines, allowing passengers to connect between different transport services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expansion was designed to remove existing infrastructure bottlenecks and provide additional capacity for domestic and international airline operations, SCMP<\/a> flagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By Jacky Cheung, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=92309922<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

International Routes Strengthen Guangzhou’s Aviation Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Baiyun Airport’s international network has also contributed to its passenger growth. Its route strategy prioritises connections between Guangzhou and major trading partners across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airport served more than 100 international and regional destinations. Between January and August 2026, it launched or expanded more than 30 international passenger routes, strengthening its connectivity with overseas markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its international expansion reflects Guangzhou’s position as a major manufacturing and trading centre in southern China. Direct connections with Southeast Asian destinations are particularly important for business travellers who frequently travel between China<\/a> and regional manufacturing markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airport’s immigration facilities also recorded increased activity. During the first nine months of 2026, its immigration checkpoints processed more than 15 million inbound and outbound passenger movements, representing an increase of over 18.3% year on year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This growth highlights the increasing contribution of international travel to Baiyun’s overall passenger traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Guangzhou
Photo : \tTim Wu | Wikimedia Commons | https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Flying_Seed_Sculpture,_Terminal_3,_Guangzhou_Baiyun_International_Airport_20251221-A.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New Terminal Attracts Business and Connecting Passengers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The expanded facilities have improved the airport’s appeal among business travellers and passengers connecting between domestic and international flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gao Zhendong, a business consultant who advises Chinese factories operating in Southeast Asia, regularly uses Baiyun Airport when travelling between his home in Hainan and Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He highlighted the availability of frequent direct flights between Guangzhou and Hanoi, Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There are several direct flights from Guangzhou to Hanoi daily,” Gao said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Gao, ticket prices typically range from a few hundred yuan to approximately 1,200 yuan (US$180), depending on the journey. He said the connections offer flexibility for business travellers who frequently need to arrange last-minute trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gao also uses Terminal 3 during layovers, where the new facilities provide additional options for passengers spending time between flights. The terminal features modern passenger areas, Cantonese restaurants and architectural elements inspired by Guangzhou’s Lingnan culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another passenger, Cai Mingdong, who travels between Ningbo and Kuala Lumpur for his doctoral studies, also regularly transits through Terminal 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cai said travelling through Guangzhou offers a convenient alternative for his journeys. His one-way trip from Ningbo to Kuala Lumpur<\/a> via Guangzhou costs approximately 1,000 yuan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Shanghai is geographically closer to Ningbo, Cai explained that reaching Pudong Airport using high-speed rail and connecting transport could take five to six hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the Guangzhou connection allowed him to reach his apartment in Kuala Lumpur within a similar period, making the route attractive in terms of overall travel time and convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These experiences demonstrate how airport connectivity, passenger facilities and domestic transport links can influence travellers’ choice of connecting hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beijing; Photo- Good Free Photos\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Regional Competition Could Challenge Baiyun Airport<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

David Wong, a lecturer at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong<\/a> who researches air transport and regional economic development, said the new terminal had strengthened Baiyun Airport’s ability to attract passengers and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He described the effect as a “siphon effect”, where improved airport infrastructure attracts additional passenger traffic and commercial activity to the surrounding area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better airport facilities can encourage businesses to organise trade exhibitions, meetings and other commercial activities near the airport. This can generate additional demand for hotels, transport services and other businesses operating around the aviation hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Wong also warned that Baiyun faces several challenges despite its infrastructure improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising jet-fuel prices could increase airline operating costs, while China’s extensive high-speed rail network continues to compete with domestic air travel on several routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competition from nearby airports also remains an important factor. Airports serving Shenzhen and Hong Kong could strengthen the Greater Bay Area’s overall aviation network through better regional connectivity and complementary services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, these airports also compete for passengers, airline capacity, and cargo traffic. Their ability to attract international airlines and establish new connections could influence Baiyun’s future growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge for Guangzhou will be to convert its additional infrastructure capacity into sustainable passenger and cargo growth while maintaining its competitiveness against other major Chinese aviation hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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