Shanghai Pudong International Airport processed 33,000 outbound Chinese passengers on 2 July 2026, the highest daily figure in nearly two months and a 20 % jump on last summer’s opening day, according to Shanghai Border Inspection. Family trips dominate, with Hong Kong, Bangkok and Seoul topping short-haul demand, while long-haul student ‘study tour’ charters to Europe and the Americas have returned to 92 % of 2019 capacity. Airlines have responded by up-gauging aircraft and reopening seasonal routes. China Eastern has switched its Shanghai–Urumqi rotation to a wide-body A330 and will add a fourth daily frequency to Singapore in mid-July. International carriers are equally bullish: KLM reinstated daily Amsterdam flights on 1 July, and LATAM will trial a Shanghai–São Paulo tag-on during the World Cup. Border control staffing has been increased by 15 %, but queues still exceeded 45 minutes during morning peaks. Authorities urge travellers to use the Suikang self-declaration app to preload customs data and speed clearance. Passengers with connecting itineraries under six hours can again use the 24-hour visa-free transit channel, suspended since April for G20 preparations, easing MICE logistics. Mobility managers should anticipate airfare spikes on Friday/Sunday departures through late August. Booking data from Ctrip show long-haul economy fares up 13 % week-on-week, while average hotel ADRs in Paris for Chinese guests rose 17 % after the route resumption announcements.
Source: The Paper
