The 2026 Spring Festival travel period commenced today, February 2nd, and will run until March 13th, spanning a total of 40 days. To ensure safe, convenient, and comfortable journeys for passengers, Shandong Airlines has adopted a people-centric approach, focusing intently on traveler needs. The airline has established a dedicated leadership group for the travel rush, supported by an operations support office, and has deployed a fleet of 130 passenger aircraft. It has also introduced or increased frequency on 50 domestic and international routes, striving to fully meet the diverse travel demands for returning home and tourism during this peak season.
With a strategic upgrade of its route network, the carrier is precisely aligning with the trends of southern travel and cross-border tourism. Based on an analysis of passenger profiles and traffic flows, Shandong Airlines has scientifically adjusted its capacity allocation, strengthening core routes and developing potential markets. During the travel rush, it plans to operate its 130 aircraft on over 24,000 flights, averaging about 590 flights daily, with a peak daily average of approximately 620 flights. Key optimizations have been made to 20 routes, including those to Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu Tianfu, Chongqing, Sanya, and Harbin, involving adjustments to a total of 22 routes to actively cater to the popular "heading south for warmth" and "going north for snow" travel trends.
On routes serving ice and snow tourism destinations, Shandong Airlines has launched new daily non-stop flights from Jinan, Qingdao, and Yantai to Jiamusi. It has also increased frequencies on the Qingdao to Dalian and Qiqihar routes, while newly opening routes from Qingdao to Yanji and Changbai Mountain. To satisfy demand for "warm winter" vacations and cultural experiences, the airline has boosted frequencies on routes such as Qingdao⇌Guiyang, Qingdao⇌Changsha, Nanjing⇌Guilin, and Jinan⇌Guiyang, making it easier for travelers to experience a different New Year atmosphere in southern China.
Furthermore, Shandong Airlines has added a new daily non-stop route from Urumqi to Sanya, launched services from Xiamen to Shanghai Pudong and from Chongqing to Nanjing, and introduced new routes from Chengdu Tianfu and Wuhan to Jieyang Chaoshan. These additions significantly enhance air connectivity between the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region. For international markets, starting in January, the airline inaugurated new non-stop routes from Qingdao and Jinan to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as from Jinan to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During the Spring Festival holiday, it will increase frequencies on the Jinan⇌Bangkok and Qingdao⇌Bangkok routes, substantially strengthening air links between Shandong Province and Southeast Asia and offering more diverse and convenient options for cross-border New Year travel.
Focusing on the "reverse family reunion" trend and migrant worker passenger flows, the airline is paving a warm and considerate journey. The 2026 Spring Festival travel period sees a more pronounced "reverse reunion" trend, where an increasing number of parents travel to their children's cities for the New Year. To facilitate travel for elderly passengers, Shandong Airlines has added routes such as Harbin⇌Haikou and Jiamusi⇌Qingdao⇌Nanjing, making these "reverse reunion" trips more relaxed and pleasant.
Simultaneously, to ensure migrant workers can travel smoothly for their return home and subsequent return to work, Shandong Airlines is actively conducting a "Spring Breeze Action," focusing on improving the route network between eastern and western China. It has added new routes including Qingdao⇌Chengdu Tianfu, Kunming⇌Nanjing, and multiple routes from Chongqing to Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Quanzhou, and Wenzhou, efficiently serving the two-way flow of migrant workers.
Centered around the Spring Festival service theme "Galloping a Thousand Miles, Embarking on a Journey of Happiness," Shandong Airlines is comprehensively enhancing the entire passenger travel experience. It is optimizing service procedures and refining details, with particular emphasis on support for special needs passengers such as the elderly, children, individuals with disabilities, and first-time flyers. The airline strictly implements policies granting priority to military personnel, properly handles passenger inquiries to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and organizes volunteers to provide warm assistance in high-traffic areas like airport terminals. It is also disseminating safety reminders and service information through multiple channels to guide passengers towards safe and civilized air travel.
Additionally, Shandong Airlines has launched "Group Discount" and "Family Discount" fare products to offer savings for family travelers. For first-time flyers, it has introduced a "First Flight Service," bundling benefits such as ticket discounts, dedicated爱心 counters, and priority seat selection to help ensure a worry-free start to their journey.
The airline is coordinating safety management with service support to safeguard a smooth and secure travel period. Adhering to the principle of safety first, Shandong Airlines is reinforcing responsibility at all levels, deepening safety culture, and closely monitoring dynamic risks in key operational areas, while rigorously carrying out隐患排查治理 (hidden hazard investigation and management) work. The company maintains strict controls on aircraft dispatch, crew assignment, and operational standards,坚决防止 (resolutely preventing) operations that exceed standards or capabilities, thereby solidifying its production safety defenses.
In accordance with its winter flight operation support plan, Shandong Airlines is strengthening early warning, analysis, and information dissemination for typical hazardous weather conditions. It is fully leveraging the core hub function of its Operations Control Center (AOC), strictly implementing the "Five Earlies" principle—early warning, early consultation, early decision-making, early action, and early notification. The airline promptly activates warning mechanisms for adverse operating conditions and joint consultation decision-making procedures, ensuring scientific and decisive actions to maintain flight normality.
The company strictly enforces "strict in-flight control" requirements, heightening security awareness and enhancing prevention against unruly passenger incidents to effectively maintain cabin safety and order. It also rigorously manages flight delays, particularly extended tarmac delays, and actively prepares for special circumstances during the travel rush, such as large-scale flight cancellations or delays due to severe weather. Contingency plans are in place for informing affected passengers, handling ticket refunds/changes, and arranging疏散转运 (evacuation and transfer) services. Furthermore, the airline strictly enforces regulations concerning power banks and oversized/overweight baggage, enhancing宣传告知 (publicity and notification) and service guidance to ensure passenger travel is smooth and orderly.
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