Passengers line up to go through customs. [Photo by Wang Haifen/Tide News]

Ningbo Lishe International Airport saw its cross‑border passenger traffic rebound strongly in 2025, surpassing 1.07 million inbound and outbound travelers — a 21.6 percent increase and the most in nearly six years.

The recovery has been driven by expanding international connectivity. Working closely with airlines, Ningbo Airport Customs supported the full resumption of flights to Phnom Penh, Hanoi, and Vientiane, while adding a new transit route. Throughout the year, customs officers serviced more than 7,600 international passenger flights, up over 15 percent.

Favorable travel policies have further boosted demand. More countries now offer visa‑free entry for Chinese travelers, while China has expanded tax‑refund policies for foreign visitors and strengthened its duty‑free economy. In 2025, Ningbo Airport Customs verified over 5.43 million yuan ($778,536.17) in tax refunds, surging 196 percent year-on-year.

In 2025, the airport operated 19 international routes to 18 destinations, including Budapest, Jeju, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. The number of passengers going to Hong Kong and Macao exceeded 210,000, a year-on-year increase of 23.77 percent, while Southeast Asia routes attracted more than 100,000 passengers.

To manage rising flows, Ningbo Airport Customs is accelerating its smart customs initiative while also deploying integrated health‑inspection gates, self‑service declaration terminals, and AR‑assisted tools, aiming to offer faster, more precise, and more convenient clearance.