Wuhan, China’s 14th largest airport, investing USD2.3bn to expand airport

Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the largest airport in Central China, has ambitious growth plans, with plans to invest USD2.3 billion to construct a third terminal building and runway. Wuhan Airport is also developing itself into an integrated transport hub and is focused on expanding its international network, amid an increasing threat from high speed rail on domestic services. Key to this, Air France has announced plans to launch direct services from Paris CDG to Wuhan in Apr-2012.

Wuhan is a player in the battle emerging between airports serving the inland powerhouse Chinese cities including Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing and Kunming, for the role as the nation’s fourth largest aviation hub, after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Wuhan Airport is, however, trailing its inland peers in terms of growth rates, as the airport feels the impact of the opening of the Wuhan-Guangzhou high speed rail line in late Dec-2009. [2045 words]

CAPA Members Login Username: Password: Remember details

Instantly get access to this article now for USD15.00. or If you've already bought this article, you can view it by typing your Article Key:

This report contains the following subheadings:

• Feeling the impact of High Speed Rail
• Passenger volumes increase over fourfold in past decade but growth moderating
• Investing USD2.3bn to expand airport, with addition of third terminal and runway
• Aiming to expand international network; Air France to launch scheduled service to Wuhan
• Wuhan – key to connecting central China to rest of region and the world

This report contains the following charts and tables:

• Traffic passengers (mill) for Chongqing Airport, Wuhan Airport, Xi'an Airport, Chengdu Airport, Kunming Airport: Jan-2008 to Nov-2011
• Traffic growth (%) comparison for Chongqing Airport, Wuhan Airport, Xi'an Airport, Chengdu Airport, Kunming Airport: Jan-2008 to Nov-2011
• Airports in China with more than 10 million passenger numbers p/a: 2010
• Wuhan International Airport passenger growth: FY1997 to FY2010
• China’s largest 15 airports by seats (total, domestic and international): 28-Nov-2011 to 04-Dec-2011
• Destination network from Wuhan Airport
• Wuhan Airport capacity (international seats per week) by carrier: 28-Nov-2011 to 04-Dec-2011
• Wuhan Airport capacity (system seats per week) by carrier: 28-Nov-2011 to 04-Dec-2011
• Wuhan Airport capacity (system seats per week) by carrier: 28-Nov-2011 to 04-Dec-2011