Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport handled 67.029 million passenger trips in the first three quarters of 2026, up 9.7 percent year on year, reclaiming its position as China's busiest airport.
The launch of Terminal 3 and the airport's fifth runway in October 2025 helped ease capacity constraints, raising its designed annual passenger-handling capacity to 120 million. During the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, Baiyun Airport ranked first nationwide in both total passenger traffic and single-day passenger volume.
In 2020, Baiyun Airport handled 43.768 million passengers, ending Atlanta Airport's 20-year run as the world's busiest airport and becoming the first Chinese airport to top the global rankings. It remained among China's leading airports in the following years, until Shanghai Pudong International Airport overtook it in 2024 with 76.787 million passengers. Pudong Airport held the lead for the next two years.
The airport is expanding its international network, with a focus on countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and members of the RCEP. Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa are key markets.
From January to August 2026, the airport added or increased frequencies on more than 30 international passenger routes. By the end of September, its international and regional network covered more than 100 destinations, including newly added services to Haiphong, Sihanoukville, Kuching, Bishkek and Luanda. Baiyun Airport is becoming a major gateway connecting southern China with Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.
In the first nine months of 2026, immigration authorities at Baiyun Airport processed more than 15 million inbound and outbound passenger trips, up over 18.3 percent year on year, setting a record for the same period. By October 9, the airport had also handled more than 100,000 inbound and outbound passenger and cargo flights since the start of the year, a 12.3-percent increase and the fastest pace on record for the period.
Passenger traffic is expected to receive another boost as the 140th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, gets underway and the APEC Meeting in Shenzhen approaches.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photos | Guangzhou Fabu
