Beijing's Capital and Daxing airports -- the two largest international airports in the capital city -- are expected to handle nearly 1.7 million passenger trips and over 10,000 flights during the five-day May Day holiday starting on Thursday, with Daxing airport expected to set new records since its operation.
During the holiday season, the Beijing Capital International Airport is expected to handle 957,000 passenger trips and safeguard 5,880 flights, while the Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to handle 714,000 passenger trips and 4,687 flights.
Most of the trip destinations are China's top tourist spots, according to a Daxing Airport official, marking a vibrant tourism market during the holiday.
"During the holiday season, the passenger trips are mostly for tourism and family reunion. The passenger flow in the Daxing Airport centers on traditional tourism flights, including trips to the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, as well as Chengdu City and Chongqing Municipality. In addition, the number of tourists to the cities of Kunming, Haikou, Xi'an, and Urumqi surged significantly," said Pan Xiaofang, business manager of the Aviation Business Department of the Daxing airport.
To meet the different needs of passengers, the Daxing airport has introduced a set of four-colored "wristbands of care" for travelers in need, aiming to provide customized services for all. The Capital airport has activated a plan to dynamically redeploy staff to guide the passenger flow at key points during the busy holiday season.
Beijing airports expected to see surge in flights, passenger trips during May Day holiday
Beijing airports expected to see surge in flights, passenger trips during May Day holiday
U.S. stocks finished slightly higher on Monday, staging a late-session recovery as investors navigated a volatile landscape marked by a criminal probe into the Federal Reserve leadership.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.13 points, or 0.17 percent, to 49,590.2. The S&P 500 added 10.99 points, or 0.16 percent, to 6,977.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 62.56 points, or 0.26 percent, to 23,733.9. Despite the positive close, the market experienced significant intraday turbulence, with the Dow dropping nearly 500 points at its session lows.
Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in positive territory. Consumer staples and industrials led the gainers, rising 1.42 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Financials and energy were the primary laggards, declining 0.8 percent and 0.66 percent.
Market sentiment was initially shaken by an announcement on Sunday from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who confirmed that federal prosecutors are investigating him over the Fed's multi-billion-dollar project to renovate its headquarters. Powell characterized the probe as an attempt by the Trump administration to compromise the Fed's independence.
Further weighing on the financial sector was a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent for one year, which triggered a sell-off in banking stocks amid concerns over restricted lending and reduced profitability. Capital One shares plummeted 6.42 percent, while Citigroup, JPMorgan and Bank of America also recorded losses.
In contrast, retail giant Walmart led the Dow's advance, climbing 3 percent following news of its upcoming inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index. The company also announced a strategic partnership with Google's Gemini AI to enhance the digital shopping experience.
Investors are awaiting Tuesday's release of the U.S. consumer price index for December 2025. Following last week's cooling labor market data, market participants increasingly expect the Fed to maintain interest rates at their current levels during the upcoming January meeting.
U.S. stocks close higher amid criminal probe into Fed chair Powell
