Recently, major airports across China have released their 2023 performance reports. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has secured its position as China's top passenger airport for the fourth consecutive year, with over 63 million passengers. Following closely are Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport in second and third place. Shenzhen Bao'an Airport has reclaimed its status with an annual passenger throughput exceeding 50 million, breaking 50 million on domestic routes for the first time at 50.25 million, ranking fourth nationwide. Both Guangdong airports are among the top ten in the country.

Why Baiyun International Airport leads the way?

Firstly, this success is attributed to the rapid recovery of domestic travel in China. According to the Guangzhou government's work report released on January 15th, 2023, the city welcomed 230 million visitors in 2023, a significant increase from 2022. During the recent Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays alone, Guangzhou hosted nearly 9.2 million out-of-town visitors, marking a remarkable 107% growth compared to 2022.

Secondly, the Greater Bay Area is one of China's most economically active regions. Serving as a core engine and crucial transportation hub within the Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou attracts a considerable number of business professionals. Compared to tourism, the proportion of travelers conducting business activities in Guangzhou and its surrounding cities is likely higher. As the only airport in Guangzhou and one of the largest in the Greater Bay Area, Baiyun International Airport is well-positioned to handle this influx of passengers.

Additionally, Baiyun International Airport's proactive efforts have played a significant role. Over the past year, the airport facilitated the country's first "quarantine-free" inbound flight and, following the nationwide resumption of outbound group tourism by travel agencies, hosted the first outbound tourist groups. Collaborating with airlines, the airport expanded and promoted international routes, contributing to the stability of the aviation industry supply chain in the Greater Bay Area. By the end of last year, Baiyun International Airport, in partnership with airlines, added, resumed, or increased frequencies on over 100 international passenger routes, including intercontinental routes like Los Angeles, Rome, and Paris, with over 1,000 international and regional passenger flights weekly.

Similarly, Bao'an Airport achieved significant milestones in 2023. With a total annual passenger throughput of 52.73 million, it exceeded 50 million on domestic routes for the first time, reaching 50.25 million, representing nearly a 7% growth compared to 2019.

As the 2024 Spring Festival approaches, and with the Spring Festival travel season about to commence, officials from the Civil Aviation Administration of China predict that passenger volumes during the 2024 Spring Festival transport period will reach 80 million, averaging 2 million daily, potentially setting a new historical record. In terms of the domestic market, popular routes are expected to concentrate on the four major city clusters of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Pearl River Delta Greater Bay Area (PRD).

广州白云机场连续第四年成中国最繁忙的机场

近日，中国国内各大机场陆续公布或预发布了2023年的“成绩单”。广州白云国际机场以超过6300万规模的旅客吞吐量连续第四年成为中国客运机场首位。排名第二、第三的分别为上海浦东国际机场和北京首都国际机场。深圳宝安机场年旅客吞吐量重回5000万人次，其国内航线年旅客吞吐量首次突破5000万，达到5025万人次，位居第四。广东两个机场进入全国前十。

白云机场为何能夺下第一？

首先，这得益于中国国内出行的快速恢复。1月15日刚刚发布的广州市政府工作报告中提到，2023年，广州接待游客达2.3亿人次。这个数字，较2022年有明显增长。单就去年中秋国庆小长假来说，广州接待外地游客近920万人次，较2022年增长超107%。

其次，粤港澳大湾区是中国经济最活跃的区域之一，作为粤港澳大湾区的核心引擎和重要交通枢纽，广州也吸引了不少商业人士集聚。相比旅游，到广州及其周边城市进行商务对接的旅客比例可能会更高一些。广州白云国际机场作为广州唯一机场、粤港澳大湾区最大的机场之一，它的客流量就有了保障。

此外，白云机场自身的努力也功不可没：去年以来，白云机场承接了全国首个入境“免隔离”航班，全国试点恢复旅行社出境团队旅游业务后首批出境旅游团，联合航司开拓航线、推广业务，助力大湾区航空产业链供应链稳定。截至去年年底，白云机场已携手航空公司新增、恢复、加密国际客运航线超100条，其中包括洛杉矶、罗马、巴黎等洲际航线，每周国际及地区客运航班超1000架次。

表现同样亮眼的宝安机场在2023年也取得了新突破。2023年，宝安机场全年旅客吞吐量达到5273万人次，其中国内航线年旅客吞吐量首次突破5000万人次，达到5025万人次，相比2019年增长近7%。

随着2024年春节临近，春运即将开始，中国民航局相关负责人预测，2024年春运期间民航运输旅客量将达到8000万人次，日均将达200万人次，有望创历史新高。从国内市场看，热门航线主要将集中在京津冀、长三角、粤港澳、成渝四大城市群之间。

文/记者 李志文
译/刘佳慧