A traveler approaches a check-in counter at Hangzhou International Airport. [Photo provided by the Zhejiang General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection]

Hangzhou International Airport processed 954,300 inbound and outbound passengers during the summer travel period from Jul 1 to Aug 31, up 8.77 percent year-on-year, according to Hangzhou Customs.

During the same period, customs authorities supervised 5,560 international and regional passenger flights, marking a 6.82 percent increase. Daily passenger volume averaged 15,400, peaking at 18,300 on Aug 8 — the highest single-day total this year.

Popular outbound destinations included Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, accounting for nearly 40 percent of flight volume. Passenger traffic to Dubai, Doha, and Almaty also recorded strong growth.

Inbound traffic rose by more than 20 percent year-on-year, largely due to expanded visa-free access. Most visitors came from South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand for tourism or business purposes.

To meet growing demand, the airport resumed service to Okinawa and increased flight frequencies on routes to Dubai, Almaty, Tashkent, and Osaka. It now operates 35 international and regional passenger routes connecting to 23 countries and regions across four continents. Weekly flight volume has exceeded 620, up 10.87 percent compared to the same period last year.

Duty-free sales also climbed during the peak season. Airport stores sold 115,200 items with total revenue reaching over 46 million yuan ($6.3 million), up 6.81 percent and 11.23 percent respectively from the previous period.