Chongqing - Chongqing’s aviation industry is poised for growth with the unveiling of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government Work Report 2024 during the second session of the sixth Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress on January 21.

The work report indicates that in 2024, Chongqing will establish a high-level New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), enhancing transportation, logistics, innovation, and integration with the China-Europe Railway Express, the Yangtze River Golden Waterway, and international aviation networks.

Bridging News interviewed Dai Ke, a deputy to the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress and chairman of Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd. In the interview, Dai discussed his plans and provided key suggestions for advancing Chongqing’s aviation industry. These include airport-city integrating development, new airport project advancement, cold chain logistics improvement, and national airport economic demonstration zone growth.

Dai Ke is a deputy to the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress and chairman of Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd. (Photo/Chongqing Airport Group Co., Ltd.)

Dai said the Chongqing Airport Group intends to boost the frequency of European routes and explore new opportunities with routes to the Americas. He recognized the challenges of medium- and long-haul transcontinental routes but attributed the success to the airline’s hub operation, government support, and stakeholder coordination.

Furthermore, the group has plans to complete the T3B terminal and construct a fourth runway, aiming to operate these facilities in the first quarter of 2025. “I hope to enhance our airport’s operational capacity through infrastructure development to serve the construction of the new Chongqing,” said Dai.

Chongqing Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, the first in Western China, made significant strides in 2022. It recorded a GDP of 86.5 billion yuan, a 2.2% increase from the previous year, with the aviation sector contributing over 40%. Additionally, the zone’s imports and exports reached 147.3 billion yuan, constituting 18% of the city’s total.

In 2023, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport ranked in China’s top ten and the world’s top fifty airports, achieved a milestone with 24/7 customs operations. Handling 44,657,000 passengers and 388,000 tons of cargo, it ranked 6th and 8th in China. The airport now has 111 international (regional) routes, expanding its global reach.

Dai identified gaps in the Chongqing Airport Economic Demonstration Zone compared to others in China and suggested learning from domestic examples to establish an efficient management system. He proposed setting up a special fund and introducing financial and tax incentives to attract more aviation industry players.

Furthermore, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, crucial for regional aviation and high-value fresh goods imports, faced a significant challenge in 2023. Despite handling 1,600+ tons of aquatic products, a shortage of import routes, especially to North America, affects fresh goods trade efficiency.

To improve that, Dai proposed expanding international routes, aligning with key fresh product regions, with a focus on the Belt and Road initiative. He also suggested incentives for new routes based on aircraft size and distance to enhance trade connectivity.