Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 30, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China’s Guangdong Province officially opened its Terminal 3 and fifth runway on Thursday, making it the first civil airport in China to operate five commercial runways. The expansion positions the airport as a key hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and strengthens its role in building a world-class airport cluster.

The airport, one of China’s three major international aviation hubs, will soon be able to handle 120 million passengers and 3.8 million tonnes of cargo and mail annually. With a terminal capacity of 140 million passengers and 6 million tonnes of cargo, it is set to rank among the busiest airports globally in both categories.

The expansion project took five years to complete and cost 53.77 billion yuan (about $7.6 billion). A major component of the project is an integrated transport center designed to enhance connectivity across air, rail, and road networks. The transport hub links to six high-speed rail lines, five intercity railways, two metro lines, and two expressways, enabling passengers to reach other major airports in the Greater Bay Area within an hour.

The development aligns with the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, released in February 2019, which proposes building a world-class airport cluster. The region’s aviation network now includes three hub airports—Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong—two major airports—Zhuhai and Macao—and two regional airports—Huizhou and Foshan. Together, these airports serve more than 200 global destinations. In 2024, the network handled over 200 million passengers.

The opening of Terminal 3 and the fifth runway enhances operational capacity and efficiency, supporting both passenger travel and cargo transport. The project demonstrates the integration of advanced airport infrastructure with multimodal transport, improving convenience and connectivity for travelers across the region.

By combining expanded aviation capacity with seamless rail and road access, the airport supports the Greater Bay Area’s strategic goal of developing a globally competitive aviation and transportation network. The new facilities also contribute to boosting economic activity, facilitating trade, and meeting the growing demand for both domestic and international travel.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport’s expansion reflects a broader trend of large-scale infrastructure development aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, supporting sustainable growth, and positioning the Greater Bay Area as a leading global aviation hub.