On December 31, the annual passenger throughput of the Chengdu International Aviation Hub (comprising Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport) is poised to surpass 90 million! This milestone follows the previous breakthroughs of surpassing 70 million in 2023 and 80 million in 2024. Within just two years, Chengdu has ascended another "ten-million-tier step", firmly securing its position as "China's Third Largest Aviation Hub" and propelling Sichuan's accelerated development as the "Fourth Aviation Powerhouse".

How has the Chengdu International Aviation Hub achieved such steady and upward strides? Within the grand backdrop of "dual-airport coordinated operations", on the trajectory of high-quality development shifting from pursuing scale to emphasizing strength, and in its evolution from a regional gateway to a fully-fledged international hub, what notable achievements has the Chengdu International Aviation Hub accomplished?

Building a Hub Foundation

Policy Navigation and Route Network Weaving, Creating a "Golden Air Bridge" Connecting the Globe

The rise of an aviation hub is inseparable from forward-thinking strategic planning and an extensive, well-connected route network. Chengdu's confidence stems, first and foremost, from its precise alignment with national strategies and a well-defined understanding of its own positioning.

In recent years, Sichuan has seized major opportunities, such as the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and has closely aligned with the province's goal of becoming a leading transportation hub. From the preferential allocation of aviation rights to the optimization of the business environment, and from infrastructure upgrades to aviation economy cultivation, it has established a comprehensive policy environment conducive to hub development. The provincial Party committee and government have driven this initiative from the highest levels, positioning the development of an all-round gateway-type composite international aviation hub as a key fulcrum for the province's opening up. The Three-Year Action Plan for Enhancing the Capabilities of Chengdu International Aviation Hub to Promote the Construction of the Air Silk Road further demonstrates targeted efforts, charting a clear roadmap for the leap in passenger throughput from 90 million to 100 million.

The air route network is the "lifeline" of an aviation hub. With the successful development of a comprehensive transfer hub network, the Chengdu International Aviation Hub continues to plan its hub route layout, broaden the coverage of its route network, continuously optimize its flight wave structure, and accelerate the construction of the "Air Shu Corridor". Compared to 2019, the net increase in passenger transfers in 2025 exceeded eight million, playing a pivotal role in reaching the critical milestone of 90 million in total passenger throughput.

In 2025, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (hereinafter referred to as Tianfu Airport) focused on building a hub-oriented air route network and prioritized westward and southward corridors. It launched, resumed, or increased the frequency on 25 international passenger routes—setting a new record—which contributed to a net increase of over 800,000 passenger arrivals. As the international route network grows denser and domestic routes continue to expand, Tianfu Airport's "five inbound and five outbound" flight wave structure has played a crucial role in distribution at the hub. A transfer route network connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, while radiating surrounding regions, is gradually taking shape. Currently, through collaboration with airlines such as Air China and Sichuan Airlines, Tianfu Airport has launched 38 international connecting flights with through check-in. The international transfer rate stands at 26.1 percent, with the minimum connection time for international transfers shortened to 90 minutes. In 2025, transfer passenger volume reached approximately 8.7 million.

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (hereinafter referred to as Shuangliu Airport), focusing on the development goals of "express, premium, and business-oriented" services, is rapidly establishing a core brand identity characterized by high flight frequency and high passenger comfort. From January to November 2025, the total number of premium business express flights on the Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Urumqi, Lhasa, Hangzhou, and Nanjing routes at Shuangliu Airport reached 97,424, a year-on-year increase of 8.6 percent. These flights contributed to a passenger throughput of 17.502 million, accounting for 57 percent of Shuangliu Airport's total domestic passenger throughput. It is worth noting that the average flight completion rate for these express routes reached as high as 99.6 percent, which strongly confirms the brand's market recognition and operational strength.

Currently, the passenger throughput of the Chengdu International Aviation Hub ranks third among Chinese cities. It has become a powerful engine driving Sichuan's rapid economic development, effectively assisting the province in building a strategic highland for opening up to the west.

Dual-Airport Synergy

Differentiated Positioning and Integrated Operations, Activating Synergistic Efficiency Where "1+1 > 2"

If policy and route networks form the "skeleton" of a hub, then the integrated dual-airport operational model serves as the "core engine" of the Chengdu International Aviation Hub. Tianfu Airport and Shuangliu Airport each have their own specialized roles, yet they collaborate synergistically to jointly support the massive scale of 90 million passengers.

Sichuan has clearly defined the functional positioning of the two airports. Tianfu Airport focuses on serving as an international passenger and cargo aviation hub, emphasizing the development of international routes and hub transfer operations. In 2025, its passenger throughput steadily increased, making it the "primary base" for handling international passenger flow. Shuangliu Airport, on the other hand, specializes in domestic business routes and regional flights, deeply cultivating the premium business and corporate aircraft markets. Through quality improvement and renovation projects, it continues to enhance its operational environment, providing business travelers with an efficient and convenient travel experience.

Beyond differentiated positioning, there is deep integration in operations. In late December 2025, the two airports jointly launched a trial operation of the "Free Luggage Transfer Service for Cross-Airport Transit", covering two core scenarios: Sichuan Airlines domestic to international transfers and international to domestic transfers. Passengers no longer need to handle their luggage themselves; they can complete cross-airport luggage transfer simply by using a pick-up code, effectively resolving the pain point of inter-airport luggage transfer. This innovative measure is a vivid practice of the "dual-airport integration" strategy. From personnel training and process optimization to information sharing, the two airports collaborate with airlines, ground service providers, and other parties to build a seamless service system.

Moreover, the Chengdu International Aviation Hub is also expanding the "boundaries" of integration by vigorously developing through-check-in flights and significantly enhancing the efficiency of transfer services. Simultaneously, in collaboration with China State Railway Group and airlines, it is establishing a benchmark for air-rail intermodal service characterized by "one ticket purchase, one payment, and one-credential passage". By mid-December, the high-speed railway station at Tianfu Airport had cumulatively transported over 3.82 million passenger trips, averaging 11,000 passenger trips per day—a year-on-year increase of 27.2 percent. The share of ground transportation, including ride-hailing services and subways, continues to improve. Notably, after the upgrade of the ride-hailing pick-up area, the average driver-passenger connection time was reduced from 15 minutes to under 8 minutes, making air-ground connectivity smoother than ever. This operational model of "leveraging respective strengths to achieve seamless coordination" ensures that the two airports are no longer isolated transportation nodes but have instead formed an aviation travel ecosystem that covers different passenger groups and meets diverse needs.

Warm and Thoughtful Service

Smart Innovation and Problem-Solving, Strengthening a "People-Centric" Service Support System

The choice of 90 million travelers ultimately comes down to the genuine experience of each and every journey. The development of the Chengdu International Aviation Hub lies not only in the expansion of its scale but also in its pursuit of service quality—from smart upgrades to people-centric care, from efficiency improvements to safety assurance, ensuring that every traveler can feel the "Warmth of Chengdu".

In terms of smart services, Tianfu Airport's "Tianfu Standard" brand sets an industry benchmark: self-service check-in, smart security checks, and self-service boarding enable "paperless travel", while smart luggage drop-off and smart ride-hailing waiting services make journeys more convenient. Shuangliu Airport has introduced the country's first cross-airline no-cancellation-fee rebooking service for business express routes, allowing passengers to change their itineraries with one click at no extra cost. This innovative service is now available on major OTA platforms, providing convenience for business travelers.

Both airports have also simultaneously improved their transfer services. Tianfu Airport has streamlined the process for passengers from 22 origin airports to enjoy "one-time check-in and luggage through-check" services when transferring between different airlines via Tianfu. Additionally, in collaboration with the Chengdu Eastern New Area, it offers transfer passengers services such as terminal transfer consumption vouchers, discounted accommodation vouchers for transfer hotels, and direct fare reduction vouchers for the rail segment of air-rail transfers, enriching travel options for passengers. Shuangliu Airport has developed an efficient, convenient, and warm transfer brand for passengers traveling to and from Xizang, with transfer passenger numbers increasing by over 26 percent during the campaign period compared to the same period last year.

The core of service lies in the targeted response to passengers' pain points. Shuangliu Airport, in partnership with SF Express, has launched free luggage delivery services with "door-to-airport" and "airport-to-door" options, covering eight major districts of Chengdu. Within less than half a year of trial operation, cumulative orders have exceeded 10,000. For passengers with special needs, Tianfu Airport's "Caring Assistance" service offers over 220,000 instances of support to passengers annually, while Shuangliu Airport offers full-process guidance for the elderly, people with disabilities, and others, ensuring there are no "blind spots" in travel.

Safety is the baseline of service. Tianfu Airport has introduced the innovative "Integrated Ground Sequencing Mechanism for Flights". During severe weather conditions such as heavy thunderstorms and low-visibility dense fog, through tripartite coordination between the airport, air traffic control, and airlines, the average waiting time for passengers on board has been reduced by 25 minutes compared to similar situations last year. Both airports have received industry recognition. Tianfu Airport has been awarded the Skytrax Five-Star Airport certification and CAPSE's Innovation Award and Quality Improvement Award, and Shuangliu Airport has received the Best Airport for Shipper and Freight Forwarder Satisfaction Award and the 2025 Brand2 Engineering program's "Leading Brand" and "Masterpiece Product", demonstrating strong capabilities in safeguarding every journey.

A passenger throughput of 90 million represents both a milestone and a new starting point. From this new starting point, the Chengdu International Aviation Hub is embracing a more open stance, delivering higher-quality services, and harnessing stronger momentum to accelerate the development of the Air Silk Road. It is injecting a continuous flow of "aviation power" into building a strategic highland for opening up to the west and supporting the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.