Shenzhen & Guangzhou Airports: Record Passenger Numbers
Greater Bay Area Airports Soar Past Pre-Pandemic Passenger Levels, Hong Kong Trails
Table of Contents
Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports have surpassed their pre-pandemic passenger traffic highs, driven by economic dynamism and China’s visa-free policy, while Hong Kong International Airport continues to recover.
GBA Aviation cluster Shows Robust Growth
Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport has reported handling an notable 40.04 million passengers during the first half of 2025, marking a significant 9.2 per cent increase year on year. Shenzhen’s Baoan Airport also saw substantial growth, serving 32.55 million passengers, a 10.8 per cent rise compared to the previous year. Both airports have now not only recovered but exceeded their passenger volumes from before the COVID-19 pandemic.
International Traffic Surges on Visa-Free Policy
A key driver behind this surge in passenger numbers, notably for Guangzhou and Shenzhen, has been the significant increase in international traffic.This growth is partly attributed to China’s expanded visa-free entry policy. Baiyun Airport recorded over 8.18 million inbound and outbound passengers, a remarkable 22.9 per cent year-on-year increase. Similarly, Baoan Airport witnessed more than 3.05 million international passengers, representing a substantial 30.7 per cent jump from the previous year.
Hong Kong Airport Faces Stiff Competition
In contrast, Hong Kong International Airport reported handling 29.4 million passengers in the first half of 2025. While this signifies a healthy 16.5 per cent year-on-year increase, it still falls short of the 37.8 million passengers recorded during the same period in 2019.
Economic Dynamism Fuels Regional Airport Performance
Analysts attribute the strong performance of the Greater bay Area’s (GBA) airport cluster to the region’s inherent economic dynamism and improvements in connectivity.
Guangzhou and Shenzhen Lead the Way
David Wong, a lecturer at Hang Seng University in Hong Kong specializing in air transport and regional progress, commented on the trend. “The rapid growth in passenger volumes at Guangzhou and Shenzhen reflects the vibrant business activity in the cities as well as strong demand from mainland tourists to the areas,” he stated.
Hong kong’s Competitive Landscape
Wong further elaborated on Hong Kong’s situation: “Meanwhile, Hong Kong airport’s competitiveness in attracting both international and mainland passengers has weakened compared to previous years, with its market share in the GBA aviation sector under pressure.” This suggests that while Hong Kong is recovering, the accelerated growth in its neighbouring GBA hubs presents a new competitive dynamic for the city’s aviation sector.