Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport reported on December 17 a record annual passenger throughput, exceeding 80 million for the first time.
(Photo: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport)
According to the airport, over 16.6 million passengers were international travelers, a figure that represents more than one-fifth of total traffic and a year-on-year increase of more than 19%. Meanwhile, cargo operations remained stable, with the airport processing an average of more than 6,600 tonnes of freight and mail per day, highlighting its role as a major logistics hub for trade.
This milestone follows the opening of Terminal 3 and the commissioning of a new runway on October 30. With three terminals and five commercial runways now in operation, the airport has become the first airport in China to reach this scale, significantly expanding its capacity and operational flexibility.
Passenger growth at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has been steady over the past decade. Traffic exceeded 70 million for the first time in 2019. In 2020, despite the global pandemic, the airport ranked first worldwide by passenger volume. From 2021 to 2023, it remained China’s busiest airport, before passenger numbers recovered to around 76 million in 2024.
The airport has continued to expand its international network. This year, airlines have launched, resumed, or increased services on nearly 40 international passenger routes. New or restored destinations include Almaty, Darwin, Madrid, Surabaya, Algiers, Vancouver, Kolkata, and Delhi.
This major southern China air gateway became the first airport on the Chinese mainland to resume direct flights to India, restoring air links with key South Asian markets. It also launched its first direct service to Algeria, creating a new connection between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and North Africa. The airport now serves more than 100 international and regional destinations.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
Editor: Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
