Kunming Changshui International Airport has experienced a significant increase in cross-border travel, with customs authorities recording 2.376 million inbound and outbound passenger trips in the first seven months of 2024, a 14.5% rise compared to the same period last year. In July alone, the airport handled 316,000 passenger trips, up 7.8% from June, marking a peak in summer cross-border tourism.
As China expands its visa-free policies and implements various customs facilitation measures, travel between Chinese and foreign nationals has been steadily rising. Currently, Kunming Airport operates 46 international routes connecting to 17 countries and regions. It offers 33 international and regional through-check-in destinations and 80 domestic through-check-in points, with its network covering major cities across South and Southeast Asia. This year, the airport has added three new international routes, including to Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam and Cheongju in South Korea, further diversifying travel options for passengers.
"The transit process is very convenient, and customs clearance is fast. It took less than half an hour from getting off the plane to reaching the transfer area," said Mr. Wang, a traveler from Hangzhou, who was heading to Thailand for a holiday with his family via Kunming Airport. During the summer season, the combination of family trips, group tours, and visa-free entry for escaping the heat has led to a continuous rise in passenger flow, placing higher demands on customs clearance efficiency.
To address this, Kunming Changshui Airport Customs has been enhancing its "smart baggage inspection" system, collaborating with the airport and airlines to optimize the clearance process. They have upgraded intelligent inspection equipment, deployed staff more effectively, and improved on-site guidance to boost efficiency. "We have set up a dedicated waiting area for transit passengers and use remote image analysis to conduct non-intrusive checks on checked luggage before they arrive. This means bags don't need to be moved again, allowing for one-time check-in, direct baggage transfer, and seamless monitoring, making travel more convenient," said Zhang Ye, head of the second inspection unit at the customs. The customs authority plans to continue refining its services and advancing smart customs technology to make "smooth clearance" the norm for all visitors.
In related news, Kunming Airport officially launched a new streamlined international-to-domestic transfer process on August 3 to address the growing demand for international transit services. The new process, called the "small flow" procedure, is designed to complement the existing "large flow" standard procedure, which involves passengers clearing customs, collecting luggage, and re-checking in and going through security for domestic flights. While the standard procedure has served many passengers, its efficiency has been challenged by rising transit numbers.
The new small flow process creates a dedicated, efficient route for international-to-domestic transfer passengers, allowing them to bypass baggage collection, re-check-in, and repeated security checks. After customs clearance, passengers can directly proceed through a special transfer corridor to the domestic security checkpoint, significantly reducing transfer time and shortening the travel route. This initiative aims to enhance the airport's role as an international hub.
Kunming Airport's connectivity as a South and Southeast Asian aviation hub has been strengthening, with international transit passenger traffic growing by 21.3% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. Among all transit flows, international-to-domestic transfers accounted for the largest share and the fastest growth, highlighting the urgent need for process optimization. In collaboration with customs and airlines, the airport has upgraded facilities and equipment, conducted safety assessments, and trained staff to support the new transfer process. Going forward, the airport will monitor trial data, dynamically adjust the layout, improve inspection efficiency and service details, and extend operating hours and coverage as needed to benefit more transit passengers and enhance the standardization and sophistication of its transfer services.