Key facts
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport handled 67.03 million passenger trips in the first nine months of 2026.
- The airport's capacity has increased to 120 million passengers annually with its new terminal and fifth runway.
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport's international routes now exceed 100 destinations.
- The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area airport cluster is projected to handle over 250 million passenger trips in 2026.
- Guangzhou's second airport in Foshan Gaoming district has begun construction.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has regained its status as China's busiest airport, surpassing Shanghai Pudong International Airport in passenger traffic for the first nine months of 2026. This resurgence follows a significant expansion project that included the addition of a third terminal and a fifth runway, boosting the airport's annual capacity to 120 million passengers. The airport has also expanded its international route network, particularly focusing on Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP regions, now serving over 100 international and regional destinations. The growth of Guangzhou Baiyun is part of a broader trend within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area airport cluster, which is projected to handle over 250 million passenger trips in 2026, positioning it as a leading global aviation hub.