The 2026 Spring Festival travel rush has begun, with Xinjiang's Urumqi Tianshan International Airport seeing a significant traffic surge. Driven by expanded international flights and streamlined visa policies, the airport handled 20 international flights on the first day, serving over 2,600 passengers. During the 40-day period, international travelers are expected to exceed 80,000, a 60-percent increase. Routes to Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Georgia will be busiest, highlighting the airport's role as a Belt and Road hub.