The busiest airport in the world: A total of 37.7 million passengers flying to Chengdu.

    Chengdu new airport invested 70 billion yuan is expected to construct in 2015.

    Shuangliu International Airport is listed world top 40 in the world.

    By now, Chengdu has opened 241 air routes, including 78 international and regional routes to 187 cities.

     Recently, the State Council and Central Military Commission have issued formal documents and agreed to construct Chengdu new airport as a regional hub airport. After completion, Chengdu new airport will greatly relieve the pressure of Chengdu International Airport as the busiest airport in the world. Yesterday, latest statistics from Shuangliu International Airport showed that its passenger traffic increased 12.8% to 37.7 million, ranking 3rd in China and continued to be 4th aviation city in China. Besides, Shuangliu International Airport is listed top 40 global airports.

     Currently, Shuangliu International Airport has opened 241 air routes, including 78 international and regional routes to 187 cities. Shuangliu International Airport ranks first in the central and western region in both flight number and navigable number. As one of two important indicators of aviation economy, i.e. human traffic and logistics, the size of regional civil aviation annual passenger throughput is directly proportional to regional development. The greater the passenger throughput, the more active the regional economic development.

     Shuangliu International Airport listed world top 40 in the world

     At 23:57 p.m. on December 31st, 2014, 3U8994, a aircraft of Sichuan Airlines from Nanjing to Chengdu full of passengers, arrived at Shuangliu International Airport safely. This was also the last flight of 2014 of Shuangliu International Airport. As passengers went down from the flight slowly, the throughput of 2014 eventually amounted to 37.7 million.

     The throughput of Shuangliu International Airport of 2012 exceeded over 30 million, the first airport in central and western region listed among the busiest airport. After that, Shuangliu International Airport keeps busy by achieving a new breakthrough every year.

      The latest statistics from Shuangliu International Airport showed that its passenger traffic increased 12.8% to 33.712 million, listed top 40 global airports. Among domestic airports, the throughput of Shuangliu International Airport ranks 5th, next only to Beijing Capital International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, and Hongqiao Airport. Because there are two airports in Shanghai, Chengdu continues to be the 4th Aviation City in China next only to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

As the deepening of economical activity globalization and emerging economic activities, aviation hubs, one of the most essential networks in the high-speed transportation system, play an increasingly important role in enhancing regional economy development. From the perspective of economics, the throughput of regional civil aviation airport is proportional to the size of regional economic development. The larger the passenger throughput, the more active the regional economic development.

      According to the estimation of International Civil Aviation Organization, in Chinese airports, every 1 million passenger throughput could produce the economic benefits of 1.8 billion yuan and offer 5,300 jobs. As Chengdu’s internationalization and frontier opening window, Shuangliu International Airport has created new record every year in passenger throughput, indicating the increasing dynamic of economic development of Chengdu.

      Actually, Chengdu's development vitality and potentials have attracted global attention. After several rounds of intensive competition with other major cities in the world, Chengdu finally emerges to win the opportunity to host World Airport Cities Conference and World Route Development Forum, which will be hosted in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Chengdu is the second city in China to host these two international events after Beijing.

      Mr. Milburn, director of Business Development Department of British UBM Airlines, said that the most important factors influencing the selection results were urban development potential and vitality. After visits and competitions, they learned that Chengdu was a city with great development vitality and potential.

     Chengdu directly links with the world

      In the process of building Shuangliu International Airport as a national level international aviation hub, its passenger throughout has achieved rapid growth in years, which closely links to the intense aviation network and international flight routes. By now, Chengdu has opened 241 international and domestic flight routes, including 78 international and regional routes and 163 domestic routes with 187 aviation cities. Shuangliu International Airport ranks first in the central and western region in both flight number and navigable number. As more and more flight routes especially international routes initiating from Chengdu, it will be more convenient to come and go from Chengdu or transfer to the whole world. Shuangliu International Airport has become more influential as the hub in the western area.

     Yan Yuhua, manager of Aviation Market Department of Chengdu Airport, said that Chengdu has opened continuously the first flights to Britain and America directly from western China regions. Chengdu will also open routes to Mauritius and Sri Lanka, signifying a new milestone in the route development path. International routes from Chengdu could directly reach the whole world quickly. As the two routes opened next month, the number of international and regional flight routes from Chengdu amounts to 80, ranking first in central and western areas. In May 2006, Chengdu opened the first European route directly from Chengdu to Amsterdam, ending the situation where no direct flight routes from central and western region to Europe. It was more convenient from Chengdu to Europe. A Chengdu entrepreneur who frequently travel to Europe for business has deep feelings, saying that initially from Chengdu to Europe he had to go to Beijing and Shanghai, delaying for one or two days in China and spending three or four days to Europe. Therefore, he planned every trip to Europe. But now it is different after Chengdu opens 3 European flight routes to Amsterdam, London and Frankfurt. “Basically currently I could go to Europe instantly.”

      Reporters have learned that direct flight route from Chengdu to Moscow will be opened soon. Besides, direct flight route from Chengdu to Paris is expected to open in 2015.

     Two wings to assist Chengdu aviation market development

     As the capital of Sichuan Province and the economic core growth pole of western region, Chengdu builds a convenient air bridge with close contracts with the world and forms a distinctive national backbone air economic zone.

     Chen Zhongwei, director of Chengdu Municipal Logistics Office, said that with the rapid economic and social development of Chengdu and enhancement of internationalization and opening, Chengdu has also become a fertile ground which attracts the attention of domestic and international aviation companies to open flight routes in Chengdu.

     In recent years, resource limitation of flight time restricts the vigorous expansion of Chengdu flights. However, this situation will be enhanced soon because Pengshan Airport has relocated in the middle of December. As the movement of Penghsha Airport, the airspace and time resources will be gradually developed and released which will better satisfy the developmental and social needs of domestic and international aviation companies. It is learned that the resources newly released will give priority to international routes. Currently, the flights taking off and landing from Shuangliu International Airport have amount to 42 from 38 per hour. As the release of resources, the number will be further enhanced.

     On a recent press briefing of Sichuan Provincial Government, leaders from Sichuan Provincial Airport Group indicated that Sichuan Airport Group would continue to enhance the strategic planning of 12th Five flight network, promote the opening of international flight routes to Moscow, support vigorously tell opening of chartered flights, introduce new aviation companies, dig out the potential of domestic aviation companies, encourage domestic and international companies to open new and more international routes, and create international flight network in one day. Meanwhile, Sichuan Airport Group will enhance and perfect the supporting service of transferring and ground transportation and promote the construction of Chengdu Airport into a national level international hub airport. The approval of Chengdu new airport construction will definitely plug wings for Chengdu aviation market development. The current phrase project of Chengdu new airport is designed in accordance with 40 million annual throughput, 700,000 tons of cargo flights, 320,000 times of landing and taking off and 3 new runways in 2025.