On October 9, 2023, the Xinjiang Airport Group made an exciting announcement about their achievements during the recent National Day holiday. Can you tell us about the milestone the group reached between October 1 and 7, 2024?
Absolutely! During that week, the group surpassed an impressive 1 million passengers for the first time, recording a total of 1.068 million travelers.
That’s quite the accomplishment! How did cargo and flight operations perform during this holiday period?
The numbers were robust across the board. We reported a cargo and mail volume of 5,613 tons and managed a total of 8,518 flight takeoffs and landings. Specifically, Urumqi International Airport played a significant role, handling over 600,000 passengers for the first time—605,000 to be exact—which marks a 2.6% increase from the previous year.
Incredible! What was the peak travel day like, and what types of travel were most prevalent?
The peak travel day was October 1, where we transported an incredible 165,000 passengers in just one day. The majority of travelers were either tourists or visiting family, with outbound travelers surpassing those arriving. Within Xinjiang, popular destinations included Kashgar, Korla, Yining, and Aksu.
Were there any particular airports that saw significant increases in passenger numbers during this period?
Yes, indeed! A total of 20 airports, including Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, Korla, Tumxuk, Kuqa, Yining, Altay, Tacheng, and Hami, reported passenger throughput that exceeded last year’s figures. Kashgar Laining International Airport also celebrated a remarkable milestone, reaching over 100,000 passengers during the holiday with a total of 116,000, which represents a staggering 34.9% growth year-on-year.
What measures has the Xinjiang Airport Group taken to improve the travel experience for passengers?
To enhance convenience, we have intensified flight schedules from regional airports to Urumqi and introduced direct routes to major cities like Guangzhou, Beijing, and Xi’an. Additionally, we’ve upgraded several services, including overnight connections and faster security procedures, to better cater to our passengers’ needs.
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