Ningbo Lishe International Airport. [Photo provided to Yongpai App]

Ningbo Lishe International Airport is boosting its Southeast Asia flight network to meet strong outbound travel demand during the upcoming Spring Festival travel season.

From Feb 2, the first day of the holiday travel rush, to March 8, Spring Airlines will increase its Ningbo-Bangkok service from one to two daily flights.

The airline will also resume its Ningbo-Phuket route on Feb 3, operating four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until Feb 28. In addition, Thai Lion Air will introduce a new direct Ningbo-Phuket service with special flights scheduled on Feb 13, 18 and 23, offering travelers more flexible choices.

The expanded routes strengthen Ningbo's connections with Southeast Asia and reinforce the airport's role as an important international aviation hub in the Yangtze River Delta.

To handle the expected surge in cross-border passenger flows, border inspection authorities are optimizing procedures, adding guidance signage and adjusting checkpoint capacity in real time. Waiting times for Chinese passengers are expected to remain under 30 minutes.

A newly introduced pre-screening system for eligible visa-free foreign arrivals allows advance review of passenger information, shortening average clearance time by about 10 percent.

The route expansion reflects the continued impact of favorable travel policies, as Chinese citizens can now visit over 90 countries and regions visa-free or with visas on arrival, making Southeast Asia a top choice for holiday trips.