Shanghai Hongqiao Cuts Domestic Flight Check-In to 35 Minutes, Boosting Travel Efficiency

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Cuts Check-In Time for Domestic Flights

Effective January 10, 2025, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport has shortened the cut-off time for domestic flights to 35 minutes or less. This change aims to enhance the travel experience for passengers, especially during the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush.

Previously, the cut-off time for domestic flights at Hongqiao was 40 minutes. The airport achieved this optimization through measures like unified operating standards and digital applications. This move aligns with the central government's guideline on boosting consumption and is expected to save business travelers time at the airport, encouraging more business trips.

Setting flight cut-off times ensures that airports and airlines have sufficient time to complete pre-flight tasks, ensuring safety and punctuality. This reduction in cut-off time will not only save passengers time but also create a competitive edge for Chinese civil aviation.

The continuous improvement in efficiency and procedure optimization has made this reduction possible. Extensive work is done to ensure passengers board smoothly and their luggage is transported efficiently within the cut-off time and departure.

Specifically, the cut-off time for domestic flights operated by China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and China United Airlines at Hongqiao Airport is now 35 minutes. Passengers without checked baggage can check in 30 minutes before departure. Spring Airlines has a cut-off time of 30 minutes, while other airlines remain at 35 minutes.

At Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the cut-off time for domestic flights operated by China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and China United Airlines is 40 minutes, while other airlines have a cut-off time of 45 minutes.

Prior to this change, flights to destinations beyond mainland China experienced a cut-off time reduction at both Shanghai airports since July 1, 2024. Flights departing from Pudong Airport now have a cut-off time of 60 minutes (except for Ethiopian Airlines at 90 minutes), while flights from Hongqiao Airport have a cut-off time of 45 minutes.

In 2024, Shanghai's two airports handled a record 124 million passenger trips, a 29% increase year-on-year. Over 803,000 flights took off or landed at the two airports, a 15% increase year-on-year. These changes demonstrate Shanghai's commitment to improving the travel experience for passengers and boosting the aviation industry.