China opens new gateway to giant panda country as Chengdu’s second airport starts operations
- The capital of Sichuan province has become the third Chinese city after Beijing and Shanghai to open a second airport
- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport has the capacity to handle 60 million passengers a year in the transport and tourism hub
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has become the third city in China to open a second airport, following in the footsteps of Shanghai and Beijing.
The first flight from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, took off on Sunday bound for Beijing.
Sichuan is a major tourist destination for travellers drawn by its spectacular landscapes, spicy cuisine and its giant pandas, while Chengdu is expected to emerge as a key hub for flights to Tibet, South Asia and Europe.
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China opens new gateway to giant panda country as flights start at Chengdu’s second airport
The new airport has three runways and two terminals, giving it a capacity of 60 million passengers a year . In comparison, Hong Kong International Airport’s busiest year was 2018, when it handled 74.7 million passengers.
