Beijing is planning to build a second airport before the
2008 Olympic Games
even though a new terminal is already planned at the existing
international airport, a report said Friday.
The head of the Beijing airport company, Li Peiying, told a press
conference in Hong Kong that he has set up a committee to decide on
the best site for a second airport in the Chinese capital, China
News Service said.
But he stressed the city's existing airport facilities would have
to be used to their full capacity before construction on a second
airport would begin.
A
new runway and terminal at the existing airport are due to open to
the public and air traffic in 2007, it added.
Li
added the Air China crash in South Korea on Monday in which 122
people died had not had any repercussions for Beijing airport.
The current Beijing Capital Airport, designed according to the
aviation market demand of 2005, is able to handle a traffic flow of
35 million passengers annually and to be stuffed in operation by
2005. After that, how it can deal with such a large number of
passengers, as especially in the Olympic season of 2008, has roused
much concern.
Departments of civil aviation have been seeking for best solutions
to meet the demand of aviation development of the capital city in
the coming 10 to 20 years.
(
April 19, 2002 )