Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports see a surge in passenger traffic during the Spring Festival travel rush this year. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_01c0f79320c5]

As the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush – also known as Chunyun – comes to an end on Feb 15, Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports in the city in East China have seen a surge in passenger traffic compared with the previous year.

From Jan 7 to Feb 15, the two airports served 8.14 million passengers, a 39 percent increase on the previous year, with Pudong Airport handling 4.28 million passengers and Hongqiao Airport handling 3.85 million people.

The figure marked a return to 60 percent of passenger traffic levels compared with the same period in 2019.

The two airports also handled a total of 66,700 flights, an increase of 5.6 percent compared with last year, representing a recovery to almost 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

To boost the festive atmosphere, both airports in partnership with businesses offered a raft of incentives, including promotions and giveaways. Furthermore, top brands – like Loro Piana, Weekend MaxMara, Jimmy Choo and some local time-honored brands – opened new stores in Hongqiao Airport, providing passengers with even more shopping options.

In response to the pandemic, the two airports have fully implemented self-services covering check-ins, luggage handling, security checks and registrations for domestic departures.

As China enters a new phase of its pandemic controls, Shanghai's international and regional passenger flights have resumed gradually. On Feb 6, outbound group tours resumed after a suspension of more than three years.

Currently, Pudong Airport handles an average of 110 international and regional flights per day – more than double the level last year – reaching 43 international destinations in 31 countries. This year's Spring Festival holiday saw Thailand, Singapore and other countries become the most popular international destinations.