Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority reported on 27 February that passenger traffic during the 13–22 February Chinese New Year period hit 4.89 million—surpassing 2019 levels for the first time and reflecting a robust return of mainland Chinese tourists following Beijing’s sweeping visa-free policies. International flight movements reached 28,340, while cargo throughput climbed to 42,280 tonnes.
For Chinese outbound travellers, Thailand remains the most popular short-haul destination thanks to a bilateral visa-exemption trial for Chinese nationals that Bangkok extended to year-end 2026. Low-cost carriers such as Spring Airlines added as many as six extra daily rotations from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen into Phuket and Chiang Mai during the holiday window; average load factors exceeded 95 percent, according to the CAAT.
Corporate mobility managers with operations in Thailand should anticipate tighter seat inventory and higher fares around future Chinese holiday periods, including the Labour Day “golden week” in May. Companies relocating Chinese staff to Thai regional headquarters will find a strengthened flight network but should also budget for potential airport congestion; Suvarnabhumi handled 31 percent more arrivals than its pre-pandemic daily peak on 18 February.
![Thailand’s Airports Break Pre-Pandemic Records as Chinese New Year Traffic Surges]()
For corporate travel planners needing to navigate evolving immigration requirements across the region, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end online platform for securing visas, passports and document legalizations. From China visa applications (https://www.visahq.com/china/) to supplemental permits for onward travel in Southeast Asia, the service streamlines paperwork, provides real-time status tracking and can be integrated into company mobility workflows—helping teams stay agile as bilateral rules continue to shift.
From Thailand’s standpoint, the surge underscores the economic importance of maintaining smooth entry processes for Chinese visitors. Bangkok has fast-tracked installation of 40 additional e-gates at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and is trial-running a digital arrival-card system similar to China’s. The tourism ministry forecasts that receipts from Chinese visitors alone could reach USD 20 billion in 2026 if current momentum holds.
The data also provide a leading indicator for other Asia-Pacific markets banking on Chinese spending. Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam have each rolled out fresh visa concessions—suggesting a competitive race to capture China-origin demand that mobility teams should watch closely when mapping regional travel policies.
For Chinese outbound travellers, Thailand remains the most popular short-haul destination thanks to a bilateral visa-exemption trial for Chinese nationals that Bangkok extended to year-end 2026. Low-cost carriers such as Spring Airlines added as many as six extra daily rotations from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen into Phuket and Chiang Mai during the holiday window; average load factors exceeded 95 percent, according to the CAAT.
Corporate mobility managers with operations in Thailand should anticipate tighter seat inventory and higher fares around future Chinese holiday periods, including the Labour Day “golden week” in May. Companies relocating Chinese staff to Thai regional headquarters will find a strengthened flight network but should also budget for potential airport congestion; Suvarnabhumi handled 31 percent more arrivals than its pre-pandemic daily peak on 18 February.
For corporate travel planners needing to navigate evolving immigration requirements across the region, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end online platform for securing visas, passports and document legalizations. From China visa applications (https://www.visahq.com/china/) to supplemental permits for onward travel in Southeast Asia, the service streamlines paperwork, provides real-time status tracking and can be integrated into company mobility workflows—helping teams stay agile as bilateral rules continue to shift.
From Thailand’s standpoint, the surge underscores the economic importance of maintaining smooth entry processes for Chinese visitors. Bangkok has fast-tracked installation of 40 additional e-gates at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and is trial-running a digital arrival-card system similar to China’s. The tourism ministry forecasts that receipts from Chinese visitors alone could reach USD 20 billion in 2026 if current momentum holds.
The data also provide a leading indicator for other Asia-Pacific markets banking on Chinese spending. Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam have each rolled out fresh visa concessions—suggesting a competitive race to capture China-origin demand that mobility teams should watch closely when mapping regional travel policies.
