The Terminal Expansion Project at Sunan Shuofang International Airport Kicks Off

In October, at the ceremony celebrating the start of the phase II terminal expansion project at Sunan Shuofang International Airport, Mao Xiaoping, Secretary of the Wuxi Municipal CPC Committee announced, “Now, the phase II terminal expansion project at Sunan Shuofang International Airport kicks off!” Fang Wei, mayor of Wuxi presided over the ceremony. Wu Jianxuan, deputy mayor of Wuxi, who was there on behalf of the Wuxi Municipal People’s Government and Wang Zhengyu, deputy director-general of the East China Regional ATMB of the CAAC both made speeches to commemorate this significant moment. The current terminal at Sunan Shuofang International Airport was designed for an annual passenger throughput volume of 3 million and was put into operation back in September, 2007. Now the throughput volume is reaching the critical point. From January to September this year, the passenger throughput volume, and the cargo and mail throughput volume that the airport accommodated was respectively 2,151,900 people and 47.5 thousand tons, resulting in a growth rate of 12.9% and 17.2% respectively. It is expected that by the end of this year, the annual passenger throughput volume will reach 3 million. To meet the needs of the rapid growth of the air transport business and to improve the airport’s comprehensive support capacities and competitive strength, the preparatory work of the phase II terminal expansion project at Sunan Shuofang International Airport was started back in March, 2010. Now, after a year of preparation, it has officially started. The phase II terminal expansion project at Sunan Shuofang International Airport was designed to meet an annual passenger throughput volume of 10 million - 3,460 people during the peak hours – and to meet an annual cargo and mail throughput volume of 300 thousand tons by the year 2020. It is expected to be completed and put into operation by the first half of 2013. From the planned configuration of the terminal to be expanded, we can see that it is designed as a frontal layout. There are two stories overground with the first floor designated for arrivals and the second designated for departures. The basement is designed as a hall for traffic and accommodates related equipment. All of the tasks in the project are planned to be extend north of the existing terminal. Therefore, for the passengers, all the support and security services will not be affected and the passengers can maintain normal use of the airport. The phase II terminal expansion project at Sunan Shuofang International Airport has a total investment of 1 billion yuan. The terminal will be expanded by 63.4 thousand square meters, mainly for domestic arrivals and departures. After completion, the total delta of the terminal will reach more than 100 thousand square meters. In the project, ten air-bridges will be added; parking lots and pavement totaling 30 thousand square meters will be constructed and overhead viaducts and other supporting projects will also be extended or reconstructed. Two years later, Sunan Shuofang International Airport will reach the size of a regional hub airport. Then it will play an active role in perfecting the regional integrated transport system, improving the investment environment, boosting the social and economic development around the Suzhou – Wuxi – Changzhou metropolitan area and the Yangtze river area.