Guangdong works out new development plan for air industry

GUANGDONG province is to implement a new plan for the aviation industry this year, reported Xinhua.

According to the plan, CNY13.4 billion (US$1.96 billion) will be spent on the phase 2 expansion project of Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport, to cement its hub status and to develop it into one of the world's top 10 best service airport in three years. The expansion project comprises a 520,000-square-metre terminal, an 840,000-square-metre aircraft parking area and a 3,800- x 60-metre runway.

Meanwhile, the province will expand another hub airport, the Shenzhen Airport, to upgrade its service quality.

The province also plans to develop the Jieyang Chaoshan Airport, which is a new airport in western Guangdong, into the economic engine of the region.

In addition, the province will speed up the terminal expansion project at the Zhanjiang Airport and the Meixian Airport's runway extension project.

By 2010, the passenger throughput of airports in the Pearl River Delta is predicted to reach 150 million.

FedEx's new hub at the Baiyun Airport has started operation in February. The hub is going to bring more than 20 new cargo lines to the airport and to raise its cargo throughput from 700,000 tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes.

This year, China Southern Airlines is going to launch more new services from Guangzhou. United Airline plans to start Guangzhou-San Francisco service. Air Madagascar and India's Kingfisher Airlines are also planning to launch new lines from the capital city of Guangdong.

The Guangzhou government's subsidy on air cargo routes has attracted a number of carriers including Emirates and EgyptAir wishing to discuss the incentive. The report said Korean Air and Northwest Airlines are also reconsidering the Guangzhou air cargo market.

The Shantou Airport will hopefully be listed as another destination for the mainland-Taiwan direct shipping and be opened to part of the carriers from the South East Asian countries.

Source: Transportweekly