An exterior view of Jiaxing Nanhu Airport's terminal building. [Photo/Gong Xiang Lian Meng Xiuzhou]

Jiaxing Nanhu Airport in East China's Zhejiang province was bustling with passengers on Jan 3, marking a successful start for the airport, which began operations on Dec 26.

One passenger, Du Ling, traveled with her two grandsons from Chengdu to Jiaxing for the New Year's Day holiday, with her family spread across Beijing, Chengdu, and Jiaxing. Previously, they had to transfer multiple times to reach Jiaxing, but now the direct flight takes only two hours.

Passenger enthusiasm is reflected in the numbers. According to third-party airline tracking software VariFlight, flights from Chengdu to Jiaxing had seat occupancy rates over 94 percent on New Year's Day and the preceding days, with a high of 99 percent.

Similarly, flights from Guangzhou also showed strong demand, with daily occupancy exceeding 90 percent, peaking at 97 percent.

Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by Jiaxing's charm. At the arrivals area, a tourism information desk is set up, where volunteers assist passengers with information and travel tips.

The airport's "One Ticket, Explore Jiaxing" policy offers a wide range of discounts for tourists holding boarding passes for flights arriving within seven days, making historic sites key attractions in the region.