The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has outlined its proposed Beijing Daxing International International Airport hub coordination plans ahead of the airfield's anticipated opening in September this year.
The regulator said in a statement on Friday, January 4, that in terms of Chinese airlines, China Southern Airlines and its affiliated carriers, China Eastern Airlines and its affiliated carriers, and Capital Airlines (China) and China United Airlines would be required to transfer to Beijing Daxing International Airport.
However, Air China and other China National Aviation Holdings-affiliated carriers, along with Hainan Airlines and Grand China Air will be required to remain at Beijing Capital Airport.
Although other Chinese carriers have been given the choice as to which airport they wish to serve, those that have already committed to establishing bases at Beijing's new international airport include Juneyao Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Donghai Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Okay Airways. China Postal Airlines can operate out of either hub but has already announced plans to develop a base at Daxing.
Foreign airlines, as well as those from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan will be able to choose which airport this wish to serve including both.
CAAC said the moving of airlines from Capital to Daxing will run from the start of the Winter 2019/20 season through to Winter 2021/22. All transitions should be completed within the space of "five seasons".
Once operational, Daxing and Capital will operate as dual hubs albeit in "moderate competition" to one another. By 2025, CAAC expects Daxing to handle 72 million passengers per annum with Capital handling 82 million.
