Shenzhen is served by Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), a mega-hub in Southern China and one of the busiest airports in the world. Located immediately north of Hong Kong, it serves as a major domestic gateway and a rapidly growing international hub, offering fierce competition on arrivals from across Asia and long-haul markets into SZX.
The most frequent and affordable flights to Shenzhen are domestic routes from major Chinese cities. Key departure points include Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG/SHA), Chengdu (TFU), Hangzhou (HGH), and Xi'an (XIY) into SZX. Internationally, SZX has aggressively expanded, offering direct arrivals from numerous global hubs including London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Sydney (SYD), Los Angeles (LAX), and across Southeast Asia (Singapore SIN, Bangkok BKK, Kuala Lumpur KUL) into Shenzhen. It is also a primary gateway from Taiwan with many arrivals from Taipei (TPE).
The market for arrivals into Shenzhen is extremely competitive. Shenzhen Airlines, a Star Alliance member, uses SZX as its main hub for inbound flights. China Southern Airlines also has a massive presence into SZX. Low-cost carriers are dominant for arrivals, with 9 Air based at SZX and Spring Airlines operating extensive networks into Shenzhen. Hainan Airlines and other major carriers compete heavily. International airlines like Air France, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific operate key arrival routes into SZX.
To secure cheap flights to Shenzhen, book domestic arrivals 2-6 weeks in advance into SZX. For international arrivals into Shenzhen, start searching 2-5 months ahead. Always compare arrivals into SZX with nearby Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) — including ground transport costs from HKG to Shenzhen — as competition often yields better deals from one or the other. Utilize the strength of low-cost carriers like 9 Air for domestic and regional arrivals into SZX. Flying mid-week into Shenzhen yields the lowest fares. SZX is an excellent, often cheaper alternative to Hong Kong for arrivals into the Pearl River Delta.