A Shenzhen Airlines aircraft is loaded with cargo at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shenyang Taoxian International Airport continues to record high annual passenger throughput, making it one of the busiest airports in Northeast China.

As of Dec 31, 2017, it had handled 17.34 million passengers, recording a year-on-year increase of 20.4 percent. Among the passenger count, domestic passengers accounted for 15.88 million, with an overall increase of 20.4 percent in flights taken this year.

Along with the growth in passenger numbers, the airport also launched more international and domestic routes to satisfy increasing tourism and business demand.

Flights linking Shenyang to Bali, Irkutsk, Gemma, Da Nang, Kamei, Milan, Cairo and Aswan all started operating in 2017.

In 2018, a Frankfurt service will be restarted, according to Wang Weihua, chairman of Liaoning Provincial Airport Management Group.

New domestic flights connecting Shenyang to third and fourth-tier cities, as well as cities in Northeast China, will also be launched in 2018, in an effort by the airport to expand its market share.

The airport's passenger throughput is forecast to reach 19.6 million with 149,000 flights forecast to have been handled by the airport in 2018; and cargo throughput is anticipated to hit 168,000 tons.

Meanwhile, Shenyang airport will launch a service app before the Spring Festival travel rush, which will enable passengers to book shuttle bus tickets online, allow paperless ticketing and shorten baggage claim times.