Beijing Capital International Airport, Daxing Airport and the capital’s three land-border checkpoints have collectively processed more than 10 million inbound and outbound travellers since 1 January—achieving the milestone half a month ahead of last year, according to data released on 16 June by the Beijing General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection. Foreign nationals accounted for 3.44 million movements, a 31.5 percent year-on-year jump, reaffirming the capital’s position as China’s busiest gateway for business visitors. Notably, 1.25 million foreigners—roughly one in three—entered visa-free or on temporary entry permits, underscoring how Beijing is capitalising on the 30-day visa waiver now extended to 50 countries. The most common origin markets were South Korea, Thailand and Singapore on the outbound side, while inbound foreign arrivals were led by the United States, Germany and Australia. Airport officials credit the acceleration to two operational changes. First, the number of automated immigration e-gates was expanded from 210 to 300 across the two airports in May, cutting average clearance times for e-passport holders to under 12 seconds. Second, a dedicated “Green Channel” for exhibitors and buyers attending Beijing’s summer trade shows has halved the processing time for on-arrival visa-facilitation letters. For mobility and travel teams, the numbers translate into greater seat availability on key intercontinental routes. Air China and Lufthansa have added a sixth weekly flight on Beijing-Frankfurt, while United Airlines will restore daily service to Chicago from 1 July. Nevertheless, capacity still trails demand on short-notice premium-class bookings, so early ticketing remains advisable. Looking ahead, Beijing border officials say they are preparing for an August surge tied to the World Robot Conference and the ABAC Asia-Pacific meetings. Companies sending delegates should ensure they register for pre-clearance where possible and make use of the capital’s 144-hour transit-visa waiver for tight itineraries.
Source: Xinhua Silk Road
