Xi'sn Opens New Showpiece Terminal and Second Runway

After three years of construction, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport has offically opened its new Terminal 3.

The new 230,000sqm complex – opened on the same day as the Chinese gateway launched operations on its recently completed 3,800-metre long second runway – raises the airport’s capacity to in excess of 33mppa.

Built at a 90-degree angle to the existing terminals, the new showpiece facility is capable of handling 22 million passengers per annum and, with 30 shops and restaurants, arguably boasts the best commercial area of any Chinese airport.

There is no doubt that it will be needed as traffic throughput at the gateway has soared from 11.9 million in 2008 to 21.2 million last year since becoming part of Fraport’s airport portfilio five years ago.

And the phenomenal growth shows no sign of slowing down with the gateway handling a record 4.9 million (+9.3%) during the first quarter of 2012.

The latest upturn is attributed to the sustained growth of the Chinese economy and ongoing efforts to develop the airport’s infrastructure and route network.

Indeed, such is the level of anticipated growth at Xi’an Xianyang, that the airport plans to start work on an extension to Terminal 3 within the next few months.

Speaking exclusively to Airport World last year, the airport’s chief operating officer and board member, Wolfgang Weil, admitted: “The huge traffic growth across the whole of China effectively means that if you build something at an airport, it will be used, there is absolutely no doubt about that at all.

"The challenge for airports is to get the timing of new facilities right. On the one hand you want to avoid becoming a permanent construction site, but on the other, we can’t afford over capacity."

"In my opinion, smart, modular development and expansion plans will be key to success." Xi’an’s new T3 will initially be home to China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and China United Airlines at the airport.

It is located next to a new ground transportation centre from where it is possible to get long distance coaches to the cities of Baojing, Yanliang, Lintong, Hancheng, Hanzhong, Weinan, Tongchuan, Yan’an, Tianshui and Qingyang.

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