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Hong Kong's Airport Authority cleared the final hurdle yesterday in its bid to run Zhuhai Airport, gaining approval from China to form a joint venture to operate the airport.

The plan, which would help Hong Kong fend off growing competition from lower-priced transport hubs in the region, has been on the drawing board since  May last year when Hong Kong and Zhuhai drew up a framework for commercial co-operation.

'We welcome the decision of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China to approve the joint venture co-operation agreement [with Zhuhai airport],' said Airport Authority spokesman Bill Lam.

'The joint venture will strengthen ties between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, benefiting both Hong Kong and Zhuhai,' he said, adding that both cities will benefit from cargo and passenger traffic growth.

He declined to provide further details of the agreement with Zhuhai Airport Group.

'We are working out the details and will issue more information in due course,' Mr Lam said.

Under the deal, the Airport Authority and Zhuhai Airport will have a 55 per cent and 45 per cent stake respectively and hold the management contract for 20 years. Reports said the Airport Authority planned to invest 200 million yuan into the 360 million yuan project

Opened in 1995, Zhuhai's airport has struggled to attract airline traffic amid intense competition with nearby airports in the Pearl River Delta.

Zhuhai  handled just 753,900 passengers in  2004, making it the least busy among the five airports in the region. It is also the only airport in the delta  that does not offer scheduled international flights.

Hong Kong's airport handled 38 million passengers in the same year making it Asia's third-busiest airport.  But it is now facing stiff competition in the region. Guangzhou's Baiyun airport opened in 2004 and is the base for China Southern Airlines.

The Airport Authority of Hong Kong paid 1.99 billion yuan last year for 35 per cent of Xiaoshan International Airport.



Authority cleared for  Zhuhai airport venture