New Digs Planned For A380s, Dreamliners

China Southern Airlines has announced its plan to spend more than $134 million to upgrade its operations at Beijing's Capital Airport. The plan includes a brand new International terminal, with accommodations to handle the airline's five upcoming Airbus A380 and 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, both scheduled for deliveries beginning in 2007.

"The foundation of the Beijing branch is crucial for China Southern's sustained development," said Mr. Liu Shaoyong, Chairman, China Southern Airlines.

"Now that China Southern has merged with China Northern Airlines and Xinjiang Airlines, Beijing is an ideal hub to link the airline markets in central south and northwest China -- as well as key International routes," added Liu.

China Southern Airlines currently operates its own terminal at Capital Airport in Beijing. Construction of the second terminal will give it two hubs at this ever-expanding aviation field.

Approximately 10 million international passengers passed through the airport in 2004, according to China Southern, which tops all other Chinese airports with 31 percent of the nation's international traffic.

China Southern "has high hopes that the Beijing branch would make the best out of the booming air travel market from the capital, as well as tap potential business related to The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," said Liu.

China Southern set up its Beijing representative office in 1989. It linked up with Beijing Capital International Airport to set up a ground service joint venture in 2003 -- and after a multi-million dollar renovation, reopened the old Capital Airport terminal for its own domestic operations, making it China's first and only airline company to own a terminal building of its own.

China Southern operates 43 flight routes from Beijing. It is expected to handle nine million passengers to and from Capital Airport this year -- as well as a fair number of porcine passengers.

Beijing Capital International Airport handled more than 34 Million passengers in 2004, compared with more than 20 Million at the recently opened Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou.

FMI: www.cs-air.com/en