New Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, built in three years plus ten months and cost nearly 20 billion yuan, are to be put into service in the near future. Hence the existing Baiyun airport will accomplish its historic mission and be officially closed. Pressmen learned this from the press conference of completion and relocation of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport held this afternoon.

The press conference was held in the multifunctional report hall of Guangzhou Museum of Art and moderated by Zhang Jian, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Mass Media Department. Lin Yuanhe, Executive Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Yuan Zhiqing, President of China Southern Airlines (Group), Zhang Lizhi, Deputy Director of Central and Southern Regional Administration of CAAC, leaders from the relevant entities, and nearly 100 pressmen from news media at home and abroad were present at the conference.

Zhang Chunlin, President of Guangdong Airport Management Corporation, gave an overall introduction to the new airport project and the preliminary work of the transfer and relocation of the airport. It is said that the transfer and relocation plan had been handed up to the provincial government and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The plan will be put into practice upon formal approval.

In order to celebrate and commemorate the completion and debut of the new airport, the Guangzhou municipal government and Guangdong Airport Management Corporation will sponsor a series of activities, which include: first, a solemn and ebullient completion ceremony will be held at the new airport before the relocation day. Some three thousand people from the central and local governments, enterprises and entities, and civil aviation authorities will gather together to celebrate the completion of the new Baiyun International Airport; second, on the relocation day, a last flight farewell ceremony and a first flight welcome ceremony will be held at the existing airport and at the new airport respectively. Passengers and crew on the flight will receive special gifts from the airport and airline; third, on the debut day of the new airport, a photograghic exhibition showcasing the theme ¡°farewell to old airport & embrace new airport¡±, co-sponsored by Guangzhou Daily, Guangdong Airport Management Corporation and Guangzhou Mass Media Department, will be initialized at the west connection wing of the new terminal. Some road shows of exhibition will be also available in the downtown of Guangzhou according to the scheme.

One the conference, President Zhang formally presented the logo and the symbol sculpture of the new Baiyun International Airport, designed respectively by Kenneth Cato, an outstanding design master, director of Alliance Graphique Internationale, and Han Meilin, a great Chinese artist and sculptor.

Subsequently, Executive Vice Mayor Lin and President Zhang answered questions most concerned by citizens and communities on the positioning of the new airport, the 2nd phase construction of the new airport, and redevelopment of the existing airport for the news media.

From now on, the transfer and relocation work of the new airport has started countdown. The entities involved will setup and test facilities and equipment of the new airport timely and organize a 3rd operation rehearsal soon.

Editor: Donald