Recent information from multiple sources indicates that Neijiang Airport, which has received site approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), will be positioned as a dedicated cargo airport. Currently, only two dedicated cargo airports have been completed and put into operation in China. Neijiang Airport is expected to become the third such airport nationwide and the first in western China.
Neijiang Airport Receives Site Approval, Positioned as a Dedicated Cargo Airport
It is understood that Neijiang Airport obtained CAAC site approval last year. Accelerating the preliminary work for Neijiang Airport is currently one of the top priorities for the city of Neijiang. However, previous public information did not explicitly confirm that the airport would be positioned as a dedicated cargo airport.
At the end of February this year, at a city-wide meeting on port logistics and modern logistics industry chain development held by Neijiang Municipality, it was proposed that this year the city would “strengthen the preparation of the airport project’s pre-feasibility study and actively strive to have the Neijiang dedicated cargo airport included in relevant national and provincial plans and layouts.” In January of this year, the “15th Five-Year Plan” proposal for Neijiang’s national economic and social development also stated that “Neijiang dedicated cargo airport will be built.” These statements clearly convey that Neijiang Airport will be developed as a dedicated cargo airport.
On April 3, a relevant official from the Airport Division of the Neijiang Port and Logistics Development Center confirmed to a reporter that the Neijiang Airport project has received site approval, and preliminary work is progressing steadily as planned. The project is currently accelerating its pre-feasibility study phase. In light of regional development needs, the airport’s functional positioning has been optimized and adjusted to that of a dedicated cargo airport.
In September of last year, a Neijiang delegation traveled to Hubei Province to “learn from experience across provinces,” specifically visiting Ezhou Huahu Airport to study its operating model, hub influence, and capacity to drive economic development. Ezhou Huahu Airport is China’s first dedicated cargo airport and Asia’s first dedicated cargo hub airport.
In March of last year, the Neijiang Municipal People’s Government signed a strategic cooperation agreement. According to the agreement, the two parties will jointly promote the construction of Neijiang Airport, facilitate the development of air cargo facilities, work to integrate into the national air cargo network system, and enhance modern aviation logistics service capabilities. This cooperation model is similar to the one between SF Express Group and Ezhou Huahu Airport.
It is reported that Neijiang Airport will be rated 4C and has been included in the “Comprehensive Transportation Development Plan for the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle” and the national “14th Five-Year Plan” key transport airport construction projects.
The official from the Airport Division of the Neijiang Port and Logistics Development Center noted that transport airport construction typically has a long cycle, generally taking 5 to 10 years. The city will accelerate all preliminary work for Neijiang Airport in order to meet the conditions for construction commencement as soon as possible. As for when construction will begin and when the airport will be completed and put into operation, no specific timeline has been announced at this time.