With the continuous growth of civil aviation, China has entered a new wave of large-scale airport construction. Projects include new builds, relocations, and expansions. For major domestic airports, a third terminal (T3) and three runways have become standard, with some even constructing five runways and a T4 terminal—showcasing the staggering scale of China's airport developments. Investments range from tens to hundreds of billions of yuan.
In recent years, some of the largest domestic airport projects by investment include: 1. Hong Kong Airport’s Three-Runway System: ~130 billion yuan. 2. Beijing Daxing Airport: 80 billion yuan. 3. Chengdu Tianfu Airport: 71.864 billion yuan. 4. Kunming Changshui Airport Phase II Expansion: 64.07 billion yuan. 5. Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Phase III Expansion: 54.42 billion yuan.
In contrast, major international airports, particularly in Europe and the U.S., often struggle with outdated infrastructure, including aging terminals and limited runways. Former U.S. President Trump famously admired China’s airports. However, expansion abroad faces hurdles—high costs and slow approvals.
Recently, Europe’s Heathrow Airport secured UK government approval for its third runway, with a projected total investment of £49 billion (~460 billion yuan), surpassing the combined investment of China’s top five projects.
**1. Capacity Saturation: Two Runways Serving 84 Million Passengers** As the UK’s busiest international airport and a key transatlantic hub, Heathrow ranks as Europe’s top and the world’s second-busiest by international passenger traffic (after Dubai). In 2024, it handled 83.9 million passengers—7 million more than Shanghai Pudong Airport (76.79 million)—highlighting severe congestion.
With only two runways, Heathrow struggles to meet rising demand. Comparatively, Pudong and Baiyun airports operate four and five runways, respectively. Despite higher efficiency, Heathrow faces chronic flight delays, long passenger wait times, and operational disruptions, necessitating expansion.
**2. Massive Investment: £49 Billion** The expansion includes: - **Third Runway (£21 billion)**: A 3,500-meter runway and airside infrastructure, including relocating part of the M25 motorway (£1.5 billion). - **Terminals (£12 billion)**: A new "T5X" terminal near Terminal 5, plus a satellite concourse ("T5XN") near the third runway, with added aprons and baggage systems. - **Modernization (£16 billion)**: Overhauling Terminal 2, demolishing Terminal 3, and upgrading central areas and public facilities.
This comprehensive upgrade underscores Heathrow’s ambition to become a superhub, though its £49 billion cost dwarfs Dubai’s Al Maktoum International (DWC) Phase II expansion (¥252.5 billion).
**3. Airline Opposition Over Costs** Airlines face a dilemma: while expansion could ease congestion, they fear soaring costs. Heathrow already ranks among the world’s most expensive airports, charging ~$33 per passenger. The third runway could add $130+ per long-haul passenger.
Key concerns: - **Cost Pass-Through**: Airlines may bear the £49 billion burden via higher landing fees. - **Competitiveness**: Heathrow’s fees could far exceed global standards, deterring carriers. - **Economic Viability**: Some airlines threaten to avoid the expanded airport, risking underutilization.
This "expand-cost-hike" cycle mirrors global trends, but critics urge prudence—massive investments ultimately fall on passengers and airlines.
*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.*