Xi'an Airport Hits the 30-Million Passenger Milestone

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) welcomed its 30 millionth passenger after a passenger on a China Eastern Airlines (MU) flight arrived at the airport at 9:35 a.m. Friday morning, marking a new milestone for the airport. Xi'an airport has become the eighth airport in China with 30 million passengers annually.

Zhang Wei, who took Flight MU2335 from Shanghai to Xi'an, luckily became the 30 millionth passenger of the year. The passenger received floors and souvenirs from the airport and China Eastern's Northwest Branch at a simply ceremony held on the apron.

Xi'an airport has kept an annually growth of 12.8% in terms of passenger numbers, with its international passengers surging 41%. The airport is connected to 147 destinations at home and abroad with 270 flights, with its network covering China's major airports, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It has launched its first North American and European routes this year. In addition, several international services will be launched to link Xi'an with Rome, Sydney and Tokyo by the year end.

Besides, the airport registered a two-digit growth in cargo business. The airport operates five scheduled domestic and international cargo services. SF Airlines and YTO Airlines have settled at the airport. The cargo traffic climbed to 210,000 tonnes, with its growth rate ranking the first among the top ten busiest airports in China.

Xi'an airport says it intends to transform itself from a regional hub airport to an international hub airport, from an aviation hub to a comprehensive hub, and from a traditional airport to a smart airport.

The airport is expected to handle 380,000 aircraft movements, 50 million passengers and 300,000 tonnes of cargo and mail by 2020, targeting an annual growth rate of 7.4%, 8.8% and 7.4% respectively, with its international (regional) passengers to increase 25% annually to reach 5 million.