Chongqing - China's Civil Aviation Administration recently released a statement, officially approving the location of the new airport in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The approval recommends Zhengxing in Bishan District, out of the three pre-selected options.

Bishan District is located in the core area of Western (Chongqing) Science City and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. It aims to become a star district characterized by sci-tech innovation, manufacturing development, integrated development, business environment, and opening up.

Once completed, the new airport is expected to accommodate 70-80 million passengers, supplementing the current Chongqing airport capacity. It will serve as an important component of Chongqing aviation and function as a regional and cargo hub, while the Jiangbei International Airport will continue to be the core airport of Chongqing, with a focus on establishing more international airlines.

Jiangbei International Airport is currently the only 4F airport in Chongqing. (Photo/Visual Chongqing)

The development of the new airport is seen as significant for the growth of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the country's aviation industry. 

Based on the airfield area class, the new airport will be the second 4F class airport of Chongqing and the fourth 4F class airport in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. The 4F class, which is the highest class, indicates that the airports in this class can take off and land large aircraft such as A380-800 and B777-9.

With plans for completion anticipated in 2029, the construction work will soon begin, including the terminal building, cargo terminal, supporting facilities, and three to four runways long 3200 to 3800 meters, according to Chongqing government reports. 

The site selection process was the first in China to integrate new technologies such as GIS, big data, BIM, and drones, according to Dong Zhiyi, former Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Administration. This marks the transition from empirical site selection to digital site selection.

The new airport is part of the government's plan to develop a world-class airport group in the region, including the expansion of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, the expansion of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, and the construction of new airports in Ya'an and Neijiang of Sichuan province.