USD1.4 Billion to Go on Shenzhen Airport Expansion Amid Dispute With Hong Kong
Zhang Yushuo
DATE:  Apr 18 2019
/ SOURCE:  yicai
USD1.4 Billion to Go on Shenzhen Airport Expansion Amid Dispute With Hong Kong USD1.4 Billion to Go on Shenzhen Airport Expansion Amid Dispute With Hong Kong

(Yicai Global) April 17 -- Authorities in China have signed off on a CNY9.35 billion (USD1.4 billion) plan to expand Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport even though a quarrel over airspace with neighboring Hong Kong remains unresolved.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner, yesterday approved the plan to build a third runway and supporting facilities at Shenzhen airport by 2023, the state-backed Securities Times reported today.

The airspace dispute is set to escalate as both sides are moving forward with their own development plans. The two airports are just 37 kilometers apart, and the southern boundary of Shenzhen airport is only 20 kilometers from the border with Hong Kong.

Shenzhen and Hong Kong have yet to make any progress over the dispute, Securities Times reported, citing sources. Both sides have had no further contact and are striving to build their own runways.

China needs to create dedicated airspace for a new runway at Hong Kong International Airport, according to a plan for the Pearl River Delta airspace unveiled previously by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. But Shenzhen believes that will impact the existing routes of airports in Shenzhen, Macao and Zhuhai to some extent, restricting their future development.

After the expansion, annual passenger traffic at Shenzhen airport is expected to increase to 80 million from 50 million, and the hub aims to handle 2.6 million tons of airfreight by 2030, Securities Times said. 

Follow Yicai Global on
Keywords:   Shenzhen,Airport,investment