Chinese civil airports had maintained a steady growth in 2014. A total of 831.5 million passengers, 13.6 million tonnes of cargo & mail and 7.93 million aircraft movements were handled, up 10.2%, 7.8% and 8.48% year on year, respectively, according to 2014 Civil Airport Performance Statistics Bulletin released by Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Total Passenger Volume Up 10.2%

The total passenger traffic volume increased 10.2% year on year to 831.5 million in 2014. The domestic routes contributed 760.6 million passengers, with a yearly growth of 10.1%. Passengers traveling by Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan routes increased 12.1% to 27.4 million, while international passengers climbed 11.7% to 70.9 million.

Meanwhile, the total cargo & mail traffic volume at Chinese airports grew 7.8% to 13.6 million tonnes. With a year-on-year growth of 6.7%, the domestic cargo & mail traffic volume was 8.86 million tonnes. The Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan routes accounted for 905,000 tonnes, an increase of 16% from a year earlier, while international cargo increased 9.8% year on year to 4.71 million.

Aircraft movements registered an 8.4% yearly growth to 7.9 million in 2014, among which 6.8 million takeoffs and landings were cargo flights, up 8.7% year on year. Aircraft movements on domestic flights increased 8.3% year on year to 7.4 million, while that on international flights and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan routes registered at 583,000 and 206,000, up 10.4% and 9% respectively over a year earlier.

202 Civil Airports

In 2014, there were altogether 202 civil airports in China, including 24 airports with over 10 million of annual passenger volume, which contributed for 76.2% of the total turnover volume, the CAAC said.

According to the CAAC, 64 airports recorded a total passenger turnover volume of more than 1 million, three more than in 2013, and accounted for 95.3% of total airport turnover. 24 airports with over 10 million of annual passenger volume accounted for 76.2% of total airport traffic. Besides, 28.3% of the overall passenger turnover volume was recorded at major airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. By region, China's eastern airports accounted for 28.9% of traffic, followed by central southern region (24%), northeast region (16.2%), southwest region (16.2%), northeast region (6.1%), northwest (5.7%) and Xinjiang (2.6%).

In terms of cargo, there were 50 airports handling more than 10,000 tons of cargo in 2013, accounting for 98.5% of total cargo traffic. Airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou accounted for 51.3% of the total. Geographically, China's eastern airports accounted for 41.1% of cargo traffic, followed by central southern region (25.4%), northern region (16.9%), southwest region (9.7%), northeast region (3.4%), northwest (2.1%) and Xinjiang (1.3%).

The total number of certified airport in China accounted to 202, 9 more compared to a year ago, including 200 with scheduled services. Nine new airports has opened during the period including Lvliang Airport (LLV), Tonghua Sanpuyuan Airport (TNH), Shenlongjia Hongping Airport (HPG), Liupanshui Yuezhao Airport (LPF), Fuyuan Dongji Airport (FYJ), Hadeling Airport, Hechi Airport (HCJ), Hengyang Nanyue Airport (HNY) and Hongyuan Airport (AHJ). And Xinjiang Qiemo Airport (IQM) was closed.

In addition, China's top 10 busiest airports by passenger traffic have handled a total of 420 million passengers in 2014, an increase of 8.5 percent from a year earlier's 390 million. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) served up to 86.13 million passengers in 2014, which remains the busiest airport in China and the second busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger throughput.