A flight from Changsha, Hunan to Phuket, Thailand, operated by Thai Lion Air, officially opened on February 9, 2026. Thai Lion Air has also increased its Changsha-Bangkok route to one flight daily. Since then, during the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, the Changsha Huanghua International Airport has newly opened or increased frequencies on nearly 10 international and regional routes, establishing convenient and efficient "air corridors" for passengers.

This year, Hunan has added new international flights to meet the diverse needs of outbound travelers. There are air routes from Changsha to Yangon, Myanmar; Phuket, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as those to Hong Kong. Additionally, the province has increased flight frequencies on existing routes from Changsha to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand.

The inbound tourism market has been experiencing a Spring Festival boom, thanks to the continuous optimization of China's visa policies and the expansion of visa-free access. During this year's Spring Festival period, the number of visitors from neighboring countries such as South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines has significantly surged, with Hunan emerging as a preferred destination for a growing number of international travelers.

During the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, China Southern Airlines will add new routes from Changsha to Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, each operating three flights a week, in addition to the existing services to Nairobi, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Hanoi. China Southern Airlines Hunan Branch said that during the week preceding the holiday, passenger load exceeded 70% on routes from Seoul, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City to Changsha. The Changsha-Nairobi route recorded a passenger load surpassing 85%, while routes from Nairobi, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur to Changsha maintained passenger loads above 80%.

Since February 7, Xiamen Airlines has launched its new direct international flights from Changsha to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Both routes are scheduled to operate daily during the Spring Festival travel rush. The first three flights on these routes all achieved passenger loads of over 80%.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: Chinanews