China Expands Aviation Network With Sixth Airport in Greater Bay Area

GUANGDONG, March 31 — China has taken another major step in expanding its aviation infrastructure with the construction of a sixth airport in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), a rapidly developing economic region that plays a crucial role in the country’s global trade and transportation network.

The new airport, officially named the Pearl River Delta Hub (Guangzhou New) Airport, began construction recently in the Gaoming district of Foshan, a city located in southern China’s Guangdong province. Authorities say the facility will serve as a strategic aviation hub designed to support the region’s growing demand for both domestic and international air travel.

The Greater Bay Area is widely regarded as one of China’s most important economic zones. The region brings together major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macau, forming a powerful urban cluster with a population of more than 80 million people and one of the largest economic outputs in Asia.

Due to the region’s rapid economic growth and increasing international trade activities, passenger traffic at existing airports has surged significantly in recent years. Major airports in the area, including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, have experienced increasing pressure as travel demand continues to grow.

The new airport is expected to help alleviate congestion at these busy hubs while improving overall connectivity across the Greater Bay Area. Once completed, the facility will provide additional capacity for both passenger flights and cargo operations, making it an important addition to China’s expanding aviation network.

Located strategically in Foshan’s Gaoming district, the airport will also serve nearby cities such as Zhaoqing, Jiangmen, and Yunfu, providing easier access to air travel for millions of residents who currently rely on airports located farther away. Officials say the new hub could directly support transportation needs for more than 20 million people living in surrounding areas.

Transportation planners believe the project will significantly improve regional mobility while strengthening economic integration across the Greater Bay Area. By enhancing air connectivity, the airport is expected to support tourism growth, business travel, and logistics operations throughout southern China.

China has been aggressively expanding its aviation infrastructure over the past decade as part of a broader strategy to support economic development and strengthen global connectivity. The country already operates hundreds of airports nationwide, but demand for air travel continues to rise as incomes increase and international trade expands.

According to aviation industry projections, passenger traffic across the Greater Bay Area could reach over 420 million travellers annually by 2035, making it one of the busiest aviation regions in the world. The construction of a new airport is therefore considered essential to accommodate future demand and ensure the region remains competitive in global transportation networks.

In addition to handling passenger traffic, the airport is also expected to play a major role in cargo logistics. Southern China is a key manufacturing and export hub, and improved air freight capacity could help businesses move goods more efficiently to global markets.

The project also reflects China’s long-term vision of building a comprehensive and modern transportation system that integrates airports, high-speed rail networks, highways, and seaports. Such infrastructure investments are seen as crucial for sustaining economic growth while improving connectivity between major cities.

Once operational, the Pearl River Delta Hub Airport is expected to become a key gateway for travelers and businesses moving in and out of southern China. Authorities believe the development will further strengthen the Greater Bay Area’s position as a major global aviation hub and a central driver of economic activity in the region.

As construction progresses, officials and industry observers will closely monitor the project’s development, which is widely viewed as one of the most significant aviation infrastructure investments in southern China in recent years.