Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. [Photo/WeChat account: hzfbwx]

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Zhejiang province will enter China's 2026 winter flight season on Oct 25, with 6,441 scheduled passenger flights per week, up 1.5 percent year-on-year, including 465 international flights, an increase of 23.4 percent.

On domestic routes, flights to major hubs such as Beijing and Guangzhou will remain frequent, with an average of more than 36 flights per day. Services to Harbin, Shenyang, Qingdao, and Taiyuan are also increasing amid demand for winter sports, cultural tourism, and off-season coastal travel. Routes to Shaoguan and Qinhuangdao are being introduced or expanded, while Jieyang has joined the airport's high-frequency routes as tourism demand grows.

International services expanded in early October with the launch of routes connecting Hangzhou with Vancouver via Qingdao and with Kathmandu, restoring passenger links from Hangzhou to all five continents. Vietnam Airlines plans to introduce a Hanoi route, while Air China will resume flights to Phuket. Loong Air plans to increase Busan services to daily flights, and routes to Bangkok and Tashkent are scheduled to operate three times a week.

The off-peak travel season has also brought a noticeable increase in older passengers. Hangzhou airport has set up dedicated service counters and accessible security lanes equipped with handrails, walking aids, and benches for removing shoes. Older passengers flying alone or for the first time can call the 24-hour assistance hotline at 0571-96299 to arrange support throughout check-in, security screening, and boarding.