Recently, through the joint efforts of relevant provincial departments and Hubei Airport Group, the feasibility study report of the third runway project of Wuhan Tianhe Airport has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, which means that the construction of the third runway has obtained a birth permit and will start construction within this year.

It is understood that the third runway project of Wuhan Tianhe Airport is designed to meet the annual passenger throughput of 63 million person-times and cargo and mail throughput of 800,000 tons. The estimated total investment is 3.08 billion yuan, mainly including airport engineering and air traffic control engineering. The third runway with a length of 3,200 meters and a width of 45 meters and the corresponding taxiway system, the tower air traffic control and the facilities and equipment for communication, surveillance, navigation, and meteorology. The planned construction period of the project is 2 years, and the passenger throughput capacity will be increased by 80% after completion. As of January 2022, Wuhan Tianhe Airport has completed an investment of 660 million yuan for the supporting project of the third runway. The renovation of the T2 terminal building and the B-type bonded logistics center are currently accelerating.

Wuhan Tianhe Airport was completed and opened to traffic in April 1995. It is the first 4F-class civil international airport in central China, a first-class air port open to the outside world, and an international aviation gateway hub in central China. After three phases of construction, Tianhe Airport currently has 3 terminals and 2 runways (3,400 meters and 3,600 meters in length), which can take off and land various large aircraft including Airbus A380, with an annual passenger throughput of 35 million The person-time, cargo and mail throughput capacity is 440,000 tons. In 2021, the passenger flow of Wuhan Tianhe Airport will be nearly 19.8 million, a year-on-year increase of 54.6%.

The number of runways is a key factor in determining the number of aircraft take-offs and landings. Statistics show that most of the top ten airports in terms of passenger throughput in 2021 have put into use the third runway or plan to build the third runway. Currently, mainland airports with three or more runways include Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Chengdu Tianfu Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei Airport, Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, and Beijing Daxing Airport.

The construction of the third runway will effectively improve the comprehensive support capability and service level of Wuhan Tianhe Airport. It is an important measure for Hubei Province to take a long-term perspective to enhance the status of Wuhan Tianhe Airport as a hub, and to build a passenger and cargo "dual hub" together with Ezhou Huahu Airport. According to the relevant person in charge of the Hubei Provincial Development and Reform Commission, they will work with Wuhan City, Hubei Airport Group and other relevant units to accelerate the follow-up work such as preliminary design approval, and promote the construction of the third runway project of Wuhan Tianhe Airport as soon as possible. Editor/He Yuting