Airport reduces flight cutoff time to 38 minutes

The Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport now requires passengers to check in at least 38 minutes before departure, down from the previous 40 minutes.

A sign reminding passengers of the policy change is visible at the Shenzhen airport. Courtesy of the airport

This policy change, which takes effect this month, makes it the first airport in China with an annual passenger throughput of at least 60 million to reduce the check-in cutoff time to under 40 minutes. The new rule applies to passengers both with and without checked baggage.

After the cutoff time and before the flight departs, the airport and the airline must complete a series of operational procedures, including weight and balance calculations, baggage loading, meal delivery, passenger boarding, removal of the boarding bridge, and aircraft pushback. Each of these steps requires efficient coordination among all parties to ensure the flight departs safely and on time.

For large domestic airports, reducing the flight cutoff time by even one minute significantly increases demands on overall operational efficiency, according to the Shenzhen airport.

This is the second time that the Shenzhen airport has reduced the flight cutoff time, following an initial reduction from 45 minutes to 40 minutes on July 1, 2023.

Travelers have multiple options for completing check-in and luggage drop-off services for the Shenzhen airport. In addition to checking in at the airport itself, passengers can also check in at the airport’s Zhongshan and Jiangmen terminals. These remote locations allow for convenient pre-check-in and even baggage check-in, allowing passengers to arrive at the airport ready to proceed directly to security and boarding.

Passengers can also complete check-in procedures online through the “深圳机场” (“Shenzhen Airport”) mini-program.

Passengers without checked baggage can use this service to complete check-in and then proceed directly to security and boarding upon arrival at the airport, skipping the check-in counter altogether.

Currently, the airport has achieved a fully automated self-service experience for domestic flight passengers. Passengers can enjoy a seamless journey with self-service check-in, baggage drop-off, security verification, and boarding, making travel more convenient and efficient.