CHINA. A plan for a second international airport is still being mulled for the Chinese capital Beijing. But Beijing Capital airport’s terminal 3 has been given the green light to cope with a massive increase in air traffic leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games.
Chinese state media reports today said aviation officials have rolled out seven designs for a $US2 billion third terminal at Beijing Capital airport, which will handle 35 million passengers a year when completed in 2007. Its second terminal was opened in 1999, when the first was shut down for refurbishment.
Meanwhile Beijing Capital terminal 1will re-open soon, as the airport’s passenger load has been increasing by three million passengers annually in recent years, the newspaper said.
Air China, China’s flagship carrier, as well as Hong Kong, Macau and foreign airlines, will occupy the new terminal, while domestic airlines will be housed in the other two terminals, it said.
Plans to build a second international airport in Beijing have been put on hold as the government mulls developing it in neighbouring Hebei province, the China Daily reported.
The China Daily newspaper reported that Capital airport expansion chief, Chen Guoxing, had indicated that the new airport will not be built close to the city because of a lack of suitable locations. Chen said it may be constructed in the neighbouring province of Hebei, although no location, timing or design had yet been decided.
In December 2003 Beijing Capital International Airport Co tendered for consultants to design the commercial part of its expansion programme. French airport authority Aéroports de Paris has a 9.9% stake in the airport and advises on commercial development.
