BEIJING - Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) on Wednesday asked passengers to arrive earlier for stricter security checks as traffic is expected to surge during this week's APEC meetings.

"Please arrive at the airport as early as possible so that there is enough time for check-in and security check," said the BCIA in a notice on its website.

Flight tickets from the Chinese capital to hot destinations, including Hangzhou, Xiamen and Sanya, have become scarce as many Beijingers are choosing to travel during a six-day holiday that starts Friday, according to the BCIA.

The airport advised passengers to carry small baggage so that they can go through security checks quickly.

China's major airlines will increase check-in counters at the airport to cope with the upcoming traffic spurt.

Beijing and neighboring cities will offer extra holidays during the APEC week, during which a series of meetings will be hosted from Thursday, Nov 6 to Tuesday, Nov 11.

Many tourist attractions have rolled out preferential policies to lure travellers.