Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, Three Gorges Airport is expanding its flight schedule to accommodate surging passenger demand. The airport will maintain stable operations across its main route network, covering key hub cities and popular tourist destinations nationwide, while adding extra flights to Beijing and Guangzhou to offer travelers greater flexibility.
For the National Day period, Hainan Airlines will add extra round-trip flights between Yichang and Beijing Capital International Airport, operating Boeing B737 aircraft on October 1, 3, and 6. The additional flights, numbered HU6305 and HU6306, are scheduled for 1:30 PM departures from Yichang arriving in Beijing at 3:50 PM, with return services departing Beijing at 4:55 PM and landing back in Yichang at 7:10 PM. With these additions, the airport now operates four daily round-trip flights to Beijing, with regular service split between both Capital and Daxing airports.
On the Guangzhou route, China Southern Airlines will increase capacity from two to three daily flights during two periods: September 29 through October 2, and October 5 through October 8. The added morning service, flights CZ8405 and CZ8406, departs Guangzhou at 10:00 AM, arrives in Yichang at 11:55 AM, then returns from Yichang at 12:45 PM, landing in Guangzhou at 2:40 PM. This expanded schedule provides broader time coverage to better suit varied travel preferences.
On the international front, the airport will maintain service on 11 international and regional routes during the holiday period, connecting Yichang to Kuching and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Vientiane in Laos, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok in Russia, Bangkok in Thailand, Incheon and Cheongju in South Korea, Manila in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Based on aviation data, local travel patterns, and ticket platform pre-sales, passenger traffic at Three Gorges Airport during this year's Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays is expected to rise significantly compared to normal levels. The overall flow will feature concentrated outbound travel for family visits and tourism before the holiday, followed by a steady but smooth peak in return traffic afterward. Family visits, leisure travel, and student return flows are expected to overlap, generating robust travel demand.
To manage the holiday rush, the airport has activated its holiday service guarantee plan, completing comprehensive safety inspections of all facilities and optimizing service procedures ahead of time. During peak hours, additional check-in counters, security lanes, and boarding gates will be opened to minimize passenger wait times and improve throughput efficiency. The airport will also maintain its special assistance services for elderly passengers, unaccompanied children, and wheelchair users, providing attentive, end-to-end support throughout their journey.
Additional customer service staff will be stationed in the terminal to assist with crowd management, flight inquiries, and directional guidance. Given the concentrated passenger flow during the holiday period, travelers are advised to arrive early and allow sufficient time for check-in and security procedures to avoid delays.
Passengers should also note that flight schedules may be subject to last-minute adjustments. Travelers are encouraged to monitor flight information updates or check the airlines' official websites for the latest schedules, plan their routes accordingly, and consider traveling during off-peak times when possible.
The border inspection station at Three Gorges Airport reminds international travelers to prepare their entry and exit documents in advance. Anyone with questions during the customs clearance process can seek assistance from immigration police officers or call the National Immigration Administration's 12367 service hotline.