China has announced plans to construct a new RMB1.8 billion (US$264 million) airport in Tibet, which will be the highest in the world. The Nagqu Dagring Airport will be located 4,436 metres – over 91 metres higher than Qamdo Bamda Airport, currently ranked as the world’s highest. The project isscheduled to begin in 2011. About 400,000 people live in Nagqu, the majority of them ethnic Tibetans. “With the airport, Nagqu, which is also on the Qinghai-Tibet railway … [Read more...] about World’s highest airport to be topped by another 91 metres

Hong Kong International Airport will see a recovery in air traffic this year amid early signs of improvement in the global economy and continued strong growth on the Chinese mainland. Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui said across-the-board improvements in air traffic figures for the fourth quarter of last year showed business is returning, adding airlines have been increasing or restoring flight frequencies. He said he is confident the airport will emerge stronger and … [Read more...] about HK sees 2010 return to air traffic growth

Airport Strategy and Marketing Limited (ASM), a company specialising in route development, has been engaged by Cairns Airport to establish scheduled services to China. The aim is to establish a direct connection to Chinese cities rather than the current situation in which connecting flights must be made via Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. “Our approach will centre around the charter services that already exist – there are several airlines offering services, particularly … [Read more...] about ASM wins route planning contract from Cairns

Cargo volumes at Dubai International Airport were up 5.6 per cent in 2009 following a dramatic 26 per cent jump in December and double-digit increases during the last quarter of 2009. The full year cargo traffic reached 1.93 tonnes compared to 1.82 tonnes during the same period in 2008. Dubai Airports Cargo handled 182,874 tonnes of freight in December 2009 compared to 145,176 tonnes during the corresponding month in 2008. Growth was mainly driven by major international conventions and … [Read more...] about Solid growth for Dubai airport through 2009

Like many airports around the world, Singapore’s Changi Airport registered a strong rebound in both cargo and passenger volumes in the last quarter of 2009. December saw a 15.7 per cent rise in cargo throughput to 149,700 tonnes compared to a year earlier when the cargo industry was in the early stage of its sharp decline. Cargo volumes for the full year 2009 were down 12 per cent to 1.63 tonnes compared to 2008 with month-by-month volumes seeing a steady improvement from … [Read more...] about Year-end jump in cargo volumes at Changi

Spanish-owned airport operator BAA has won its appeal against a ruling by the UK Competition Commission that it must sell three of its airports on the basis that the commission was biased. BAA has already agreed to sell Gatwick to Global Infrastructure Partners for some £1.5 billion (€1.7 billion), but now has a stay of execution on the sale of the other two airports – London Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh. … [Read more...] about BAA wins appeal on airport sale