Photo: Nanfang Plus
On December 24, Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport in South China's Guangdong province recorded its 10-millionth passenger of the year, becoming the province's fourth airport to reach this milestone, after Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an Airport, and Zhuhai Jinwan Airport. Guangdong is now the first province in China to have four airports operating at this scale.
By the end of 2024, only 40 of China's 263 civil airports will have annual passenger volumes above 10 million, most of them in provincial capitals or major cities. Jieyang Chaoshan is among the few prefecture-level city airports to join this group.
Located in eastern Guangdong, Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport serves the cities of Jieyang, Shantou, and Chaozhou, which is a key economic and cultural hub along the province's eastern coast. The airport currently serves 67 destinations with 27 airlines. Its 3,200-meter runway and 4E-class airfield can accommodate up to 14.5 million passengers, over 90,000 tonnes of cargo, and 100,000 flight movements per year.
Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport has experienced strong passenger growth in recent years, reaching 8.66 million in 2024. In 2025, traffic surged further, setting multiple records during peak periods. During the Spring Festival, daily passenger numbers reached as high as 41,000, while the summer travel season saw 1.85 million passengers across 14,729 flights, an increase of more than 16% from the previous year. By early November, the airport had already matched its total passenger numbers for 2024, maintaining a steady upward trend through the rest of the year.
The region is known for its manufacturing industries, export-oriented trade, and vibrant tourism, including a rich tradition of local cuisine and cultural heritage. The airport's achievement of handling over 10 million passengers is expected to further enhance regional connectivity, attract investment, and support local industries by facilitating the flow of people, goods, and tourism. Improved air links will also strengthen ties with domestic and overseas markets, helping eastern Guangdong integrate more fully into the broader Pearl River Delta and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area economies.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
Editor: Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
