Flights at Shuangliu International Airport, the busiest air traffic hub in western China, will rise slightly during the 40 days of the Spring Festival transport period (Jan. 11-Feb. 19), under a plan the airport released on Saturday.

The airport, about 10 km from Chengdu, the capital of southwest Sichuan Province, is expected to handle 18,000 flights in the period, up 3 percent year-on-year. More than 2 million passengers are expected to use the airport.

The airport will transport 500 unaccompanied minors daily around the 10 peak days of the Spring Festival, or Chinese lunar new year, which falls on Jan. 26 this year.

To ensure smooth operation, the airport will adopt 24-hour shift work and open special security checks for tour groups, the aged, disabled and pregnant women.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2009)