About 5.6 million passengers are expected to use Shanghai's two airports during the Spring Festival peak travel season, a rise of 8.3 percent from one year ago, Xinmin Evening News reported today.

The peak season starts today and continues until March 2.

Air traffic flow in Shanghai is expected to account for more than 25 percent of the country's total during the holiday peak, the newspaper said.

Pudong International Airport will handle 3.45 million passengers during the 40-day peak period while 2.15 million people are expected to take off or land at Hongqiao International Airport, the report said.

Huge crowds are expected to hit the two airports from January 30 to February 5, two days before the Spring Festival, the nation's most important holiday.

Another peak will take place starting on February 11 and 12, the report said.

Pudong Airport pledged it will open all its 20 departure gates for international passengers during the peak season along with 13 gates for domestic travelers, the report said.

Previous reports said about 22 million passengers will fly nationwide during the Spring Festival holiday, up 10 percent year on year.

China also expects a record 2.15 billion bus travelers across the country over the period. The figure represents an increase of five percent from the same period a year earlier while 178.6 million passengers are expected to take trains.

(Shanghai Daily January 24, 2008)