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Frank Chen

Shenzhen is poised to get a big boost to its aviation hub ambitions, as China’s industry regulator considers a relaxation of rules that previously sought to concentrate most of the country’s intercontinental air routes to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.
The proposed rule change comes as the southern tech hub breaks ground on a massive expansion of its airport, with the prospect of adding more lucrative services to the US and Europe and intensifying competition with Hong Kong.
According to a new draft document from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) currently receiving feedback from stakeholders, airlines based at Shenzhen Baoan International Airport would no longer be bound by a restrictive rule in place since March 2025 and could add more long-haul routes, including transpacific ones.
The change would ease requirements that flights bound for Europe and North America must depart from Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou, the “big three” gateway hubs accorded the highest priority in terms of routes, capacity planning and approval.
Shenzhen was seen as the main beneficiary of the change, made after carriers – especially those based outside the three gateway cities – ramped up their calls for an alteration of policy, according to a report from Shanghai-based aviation consultancy and news portal Airwefly.
“Shenzhen was the biggest loser when the CAAC asked airlines last year to funnel passengers heading for the US and Europe through Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou,” said Airwefly analyst Jason Zheng. “Now the relaxation will put Shenzhen back onto the map when it comes to how CAAC allocates air traffic rights.”
The right to fly routes to America was heavily regulated by rigid caps on the number of weekly round-trip flights allowed between China and the US, which were highly profitable as demand normally overwhelmed available capacity, Zheng said. Chinese airlines and even city governments would fiercely compete with one another just to be awarded traffic rights, he added.
Shenzhen already has a route to Los Angeles running three times per week, operated by flag carrier Air China. It also maintains extensive European services to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan, Rome, Barcelona and Moscow.

Notably, CAAC’s new document said Shenzhen, a city at the leading edge of China’s tech push, was being encouraged to open routes or add more frequent flights to a list of “global innovation and financial centres” that included San Francisco, Boston, Seoul, Toronto, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Berlin, Tel Aviv, London, Seattle and Bengaluru.
According to the regulator, Shenzhen could also increase connections with “key nodes” in countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s infrastructure-focused strategy for regional connectivity.
The proposed rule change coincides with the city’s construction work to expand its airport, which began on Tuesday. Plans include the addition of a new terminal and renovations for another.
Shenzhen Airport already has three runways, two terminals and one satellite concourse. When the expansion is completed, it will be able to handle 98 million passengers a year and 5 million tonnes of cargo and mail, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily. Hong Kong International Airport also opened its third runway in 2022 and launched a revamped Terminal 2 in May.
More intercontinental routes and higher capacity would put Shenzhen in a better position to compete with Hong Kong, said Airwefly’s Zheng.
“Hong Kong still commands an edge in overall international connectivity, but Shenzhen is rapidly catching up,” Zheng said. “CAAC’s proposed rule change is a clear signal enabling a bigger role for Shenzhen, so Hong Kong should take note.”
In 2025, Shenzhen airport handled 66 million passengers, higher than Hong Kong’s 61 million.


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Shenzhen Baoan Airport could add more routes as China’s aviation regulator considers easing requirements for intercontinental flights


Shenzhen Baoan Airport could add more routes as China’s aviation regulator considers easing requirements for intercontinental flights.


Further to fly? Proposed rule change would boost Shenzhen’s aviation ambitions

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Shenzhen Baoan Airport could add more routes as China’s aviation regulator considers easing requirements for intercontinental flights

Shenzhen Baoan Airport could add more routes as China’s aviation regulator considers easing requirements for intercontinental flights