Outlook of departure ground of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport T3A terminal, as seen last summer.

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- It has been a year since Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport T3A terminal was officially put into use on August 29, 2018. Data of all kinds in the year is pleasing for the new terminal, and it is estimated that passenger throughput for this year will reach 40 million, a further increase for the operation of the airport.

Waiting area in Chongqing Airport T3A terminal. 

First airport with 3 runways in mid and western China, operation capabilities improved significantly

Chongqing Airport became the first airport in mid and western China to have 3 terminals and 3 runways working at the same time, when the T3A terminal and third runway were put into use on August 29 last year. Passenger throughput tripled, and terminal area increased by 2 times and a half, which significantly improved the transportation capabilities of Chongqing Airport. 

Data indicates that, since August 29 of last year, Chongqing Airport has served 40.51 million people and dispatched 293.6 thousand flights; flight passenger load factor reached 84.4% and cargo reached 383.7 thousand tons. The Integrated Transportation Hub that was put into use at the same time with T3 terminal has welcomed 2.11 million people and opened 41 bus lines, covering outer reaches of Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou. In terms of bus lines, long-distance bus hub of Chongqing Airport is leading in airports of the same level.

Statistics also suggests that last year, the normal rate of flight release at Chongqing Airport reached 85.69%, ranking second among the top ten airports in the country and ranking first in Southwest China. With the opening of the T3 terminal, the normal rate of flight release at Chongqing Airport in the first half of this year was 88.73%, an increase of 3% compared with the same period last year.

Direct flights from Chongqing connect many countries and regions.

Chongqing opened 73 international and regional flights to 55 cities on five continents

“Since the opening of the T3 terminal, Chongqing Airport has started new international routes to New York, Melbourne, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Sihanoukville, etc., and domestic routes to Longnan, Meizhou and Wugang.” According to the staff of the Airport Marketing Department, there are currently 291 flight routes for Chongqing Airport connecting 182 cities.

In the first half of this year, Chongqing Airport has opened five international routes to Hanoi, Hat Yai, Ho Chi Minh, Chongqing-Zhanjiang-Bangkok and Sihanoukville. So far, there are 73 international and regional routes for Chongqing Airport, including 59 for passengers and 14 for cargoes, connecting 55 cities in 22 countries on 5 continents. Among the 59 passenger routes, there are 15 intercontinental routes, connecting London, Rome, New York, Melbourne, Helsinki, Moscow, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sydney, Auckland, etc., and 14 of them are direct flights.

According to Chongqing Airport, this year, it plans to open international routes connecting Toronto, Chicago, Paris, Colombo, Kathmandu, etc. to further improve the international route network to cover Europe, America, Australia, Asia and Africa.

Intelligent trolleys neatly parked in the T3A terminal of Chongqing Airport.

Advanced technology all over the terminal, smart airport construction helps the continuous increase of service level

For more safe and convenient, Chongqing Airport has successively launched an intelligent system of face recognition for security check, portable baggage-owner corresponding system, paperless flight, self-service baggage consignment, terminal intelligent navigation, temporary identity certificate self-service system, parking lot express payment and reverse search of vehicles. The application of technology has intellectualized passengers’ entry and exiting process of the airport. 

At the same time, the T3 terminal has also full coverage of WIFI and has put more than 200 smart trolleys in use. A free rental service for baby strollers is available. Sharing between multiple national airport are in trial, in an effort to build a chain service brand.

It is worth noting that in the passenger evaluation initiated by Airports Council International for the second quarter, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport ranked first in the world for “passenger throughput of 25 million to 40 million” for two consecutive quarters, maintaining a leading position in airports of the same level.

“Chongqing Airport will next create a leisure and entertainment area for passengers, introducing sleeping capsules, mini-singing bars, reading pavilions and other service facilities to provide passengers with a more comfortable and convenient service experience.” A person in charge at Chongqing Airport said that passengers throughput for Chongqing Jiangbei Airport will exceed 40 million this year, and is expected to reach 50 million by 2020. (Translated by Yang Lifu, Fathom Language Limited)