Beijing, Hong Kong airports sign accord

Beijing Capital Airports Holding Co. and the Hong Kong International Airport signed a memorandum of cooperation on June 12 for Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport, which will be operated next year. Minister Yang Yuanyuan of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and Chairman Victor Fung and CEO Stanley Hui Hon-chung of the of the Hong Kong Airport Authority, attended the signing ceremony, held in Beijing. The cooperation project includes a service contract consultant, management system, standards consultant, and training support. Next year, HKIA will send experts during the trial operation of Terminal 3 to evaluate system operation capability and identify risks. Since this March, Beijing and Hong Kong airports have cooperated on five service contracts consisting of a luggage system, express system, cleaning, security, and park management. The two airports, together with airlines and inspection units, will establish an airport operation acceptance supervision commission and airport operation acceptance implementation commission to supervise and implement preparatory work. Terminal 3 is being rushed for the 2008 Olympics. The expansion of Beijing Airport will cost about US$2 billion. The airport’s capacity will increase from 27 million to 60 million passengers per year by 2015.