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SCMP Reporter

Authorities in Beijing are examining potential sites for the capital's second airport, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning.

Deputy commission planner Tan Xuxiang  was quoted by the China News Service as saying the new airport would be located in southeastern or southern Beijing.

He said these areas were selected as potential locations due to forecasts of  increased passenger flows from neighbouring Tianjin  and Hebei  in the future.

'Overall planning should be based on co-ordinating a region, instead of considering Beijing alone. [We] also have to consider the mutual development of Tianjin and Hebei.'

He added that work such as co-ordinating flight routes would start after a location was selected.

A senior Beijing Capital International Airport official said in 2003 that construction of any new airport would not start until after 2010.

In December 2003 alone, the Beijing Capital International Airport - which has been in use since 1958 - had a passenger throughput of 2.7 million,  up 14 per cent from the same month in 2002.

It is expected that by 2006, the annual passenger throughput will be more than 40 million, according to a notice on the airport's website.

Meanwhile, the commission also announced plans to develop the southern part of Beijing city known as Nancheng.

Nancheng generally refers to the area below the second ring road and is more rural compared with the commercial areas in the eastern and western parts of  the city. It covers districts like Chongwen, Xuanwu and Fengtai.

Mr Tan stressed that the development of Nancheng should be progressive. 'Although some real estate developers have said there will be a large-scale opening up of Nancheng, development efforts will focus on lifting its quality.'

Regarding the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, Liu Xincai , a commission official, said there would not only be co-operation in economic areas, but also in environmental protection, residential and other infrastructure.



Southern location for  2nd Beijing airport