Wuhan, China’s 14th largest airport, investing USD2.3bn to expand airport

Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, the largest airport in Central China, has ambitious growth plans, with plans to invest USD2.3 billion to construct a third terminal building and runway. Wuhan Airport is also developing itself into an integrated transport hub and is focused on expanding its international network, amid an increasing threat from high speed rail on domestic services. Key to this, Air France has announced plans to launch direct services from Paris CDG to Wuhan in Apr-2012.

Wuhan is a player in the battle emerging between airports serving the inland powerhouse Chinese cities including Chengdu, Xi'an, Chongqing and Kunming, for the role as the nation's fourth largest aviation hub, after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Wuhan Airport is, however, trailing its inland peers in terms of growth rates, as the airport feels the impact of the opening of the Wuhan-Guangzhou high speed rail line in late Dec-2009.