More than 69 million passengers had been processed up to the 25th anniversary of Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport on June 18, with annual throughput growing from fewer than 1 million in 2007 to 12.28 million last year.

At its inception in 1995 the airport was the most well-equipped of its kind in China, able to handle 12 million passengers each year. Hong Kong-Zhuhai Airport Management, set up jointly in 2006 by the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government and Airport Authority Hong Kong, was innovatively entrusted with the airport's transportation business.

Passenger throughput exceeded 1 million in 2007 and 10 million in 2008. On Nov 20, 2018, it became the 35th airport in China with passenger throughput of more than 10 million and one of only two prefecture-level airports accomplishing that.

Anniversary celebration [Photo courtesy nanfangplus]

To date, Zhuhai has 80 air connections reaching most domestic capital and developed cities, and 29 are accessible by at least three daily flights. For instance, there are 10 to 11 flights to Beijing and 12 to 13 flights to Shanghai daily. Both coverage and frequency can basically satisfy travel requirements of passengers from Zhuhai and neighboring cities.

Moreover, the airport has 13 remote check-ins, of which six are in Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Shunde. And, 14 express routes operate across Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Shunde, Macao, and Hong Kong, with 534 runs available daily. 

As of May 17, Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport had installed a 5G network for terminal and flight management in collaboration with China Unicom Zhuhai Branch.

Back in 1995, the airport was the first in China to equip all boarding bridges with a no-support-vehicle-on-apron system. The system, upgraded and reopened Thursday, redirects water supply, sewage disposal, electricity, and air conditioning services into tunnels leading to lift platforms beneath the apron. Not only does it increase efficiency and safety, it also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40 tons annually.

In addition, the airport has been constructing and upgrading operation and IT platforms since last year. Specifically, it has improved systems for control tower monitoring and guidance, perimeter intrusion detection (PID), and airport-collaborative decision-making (A-CDM).

By 2027, the airport will be able to handle 198,000 flights, 27.5 million passengers, and 104,000 tons of cargo and mail annually relying on renovations and expansion now underway for a second terminal, comprehensive transport hub, and improved facilities.