(Yicai) May 30 -- Air China is preparing to greatly expand its operations in Chongqing as part of China’s plans to develop an international aviation hub in the southwestern municipality.

Air China, one of the country’s three state-owned carriers, will raise the number of domestic destinations from Chongqing from the current 30 to 62 in the short term, the Beijing-based company told Yicai.

In the next five to six years, it will open at least 10 new international routes, including three or four to Europe and the United States, in addition to the existing eight international routes, it added.

Air China has already submitted plans to the Civil Aviation Administration of China for approval, a company official said.

The CAAC released a plan in 2022 to create a world-class airport cluster in western China based on the cities of Chengdu in Sichuan province and Chongqing. Chongqing will build a new international airport, in addition to the existing Jiangbei International Airport, creating a new hub connecting Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the US.

Air China ranks first in Chongqing’s civil aviation market with 15.1 percent of flights in May, followed by Sichuan Airlines with 13.7 percent and HNA Aviation Group’s West Air at 10.5 percent, according to OAG, a supplier of flight data.

Other airlines have also ramped up investment in Chongqing. China Eastern Airlines, another of the country’s three state-owned carriers, held an unveiling ceremony for its Chongqing operations base on May 22.

Liaoning Fangda Group Industrial, the major shareholder of HNA Aviation Group, entered into a strategic partnership with the Chongqing government last month to help build the international aviation hub.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Tom Litting