A quarter of a billion people are expected to travel this upcoming May Day holiday, breaking all records. For those getting on a plane over the next week, authorities have released travel advisory warnings to keep us safe and to get us to our destination.
From tomorrow, 30 April until 5 May, Nanjing Lukou International Airport is predicting a passenger throughput in excess of 480,000 passengers. Peak days are set to be 30 April, 1 May and 5 May.
By way of comparison, for May Day 2020, in the wake of COVID, scarcely 100,000 passed through Lukou.
It is therefore only sensible to forewarn the travelling public as to the issues they may encounter. Readers of The Nanjinger set to take to the skies are urged to be prudent in their preparations.
Over the May Day holiday, all domestic airlines shall be operating at full capacity to satisfy the strong demand for travel. China Eastern Airlines opens a new direct route between Nanjing and Kashgar from May Day on, while tourist cities such as Lijiang, Yan’an, Dalian, Kunming, Mudanjiang, Dunhuang, Xishuangbanna, Zhuhai, Ha’erbin, Xi’an, and Changsha are among the most popular destinations this year.
Allow extra time for your journey to Lukou, irrespective of your mode of transport. Metro Line S1 will be packed, while road tolls will as usual be removed from expressways for the duration of the holiday. This means more cars which equals more traffic jams.
Passengers taking domestic flights should arrive at the airport 2 hours in advance; for international flights make it 3 hours. Be prepared to show your green health code upon entry to the airport.
Face masks are to be worn at all times, both in the airport and on board aircraft. Passengers who have lost their mask or whose mask is damaged can pick up new disposable masks at the information desk and inspection counter. Alcohol disinfection cotton pads are also provided free of charge at the inspection counter.
Passengers with no baggage to check can obtain an electronic boarding pass (QR code) through mobile check-in means. This can be done through the airline’s app, the airport’s official WeChat account (南京禄口国际机场), the UMETrip app (航旅纵横), and others. Upon arrival at the airport, proceed directly to the security check.
Passengers with baggage are requested to maintain social distancing at check in and baggage check counters. Mercury thermometers cannot be carried on board the aircraft but may in checked baggage. They must be placed in their protective box. Disinfectants with an alcohol volume of less than or equal to 70 percent cannot be carried on board, but may in checked baggage, with a limit of 500ml.
According to the requirements of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), passengers shall need use hand sanitiser at the gate prior to boarding. Sanitiser will also be on hand at check-in counters, security checks, information counters and baggage checks, says the airport’s official WeChat account.
Finally, passengers are requested to be cooperative with additional temperature checks, including on the aircraft itself.
On a more general note, passengers using Nanjing Lukou International Airport this May Day holiday can also rest easy in the knowledge that all public facilities will be regularly disinfected. This includes elevator handrails, check-in island counters, boarding gate counters, seating, trolleys, bathrooms, baby-care rooms and children’s play areas.
For those with cars equipped with ETC (Electronic Toll Collection), this may also now be used to quickly pay and exit the parking lots of both T1 and T2.
Passengers may call Nanjing Lukou International Airport’s service hotline, 96066, with their inquiries, 24/7.
