The new state-of-the art airport in Guangzhou will begin operations on August 5, with the existing airport shut down late the day before, officials have announced.

Equipment needed at the new facility will be disconnected from the old airport and transferred to the new one overnight before the first flight at the new site takes off at 7:30 am.

Preparations for the tightly scheduled transfer and inaugural flights are under way so that every detail should be carried out efficiently, according to planners.

Operation at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, as the new facility is to be called, were originally set for June 28 but were backed off to July 8. August 5 was set as the date on Monday.

Zhang Guangning, mayor of Guangzhou, said the airport's delayed opening was to leave enough time for operational rehearsals, for examinations and solutions to possible problems and for staff to become completely familiar with the systems.

He said a grand opening ceremony will be organized to celebrate the airport's completion and operating licence, which will be issued on August 2.

A third rehearsal, with all internal and external departments, will be organized late this month to make sure that everything is ready.

In the previous two rehearsals, more than 200 problems cropped up, all of which will be cleared away by July 15.

The first operational rehearsal was undertaken in late May with some 2,000 participants, while the second was organized in mid-June with 4,200 "passengers'' and real aircraft joining in.

"All departments must gear up to minimize all possible hidden problems, to get accustomed to the new working environment and to rationalize the procedure of equipment transfer under experts' guidance," Zhang urged.

As the base airliner of the airport, China Southern Airline Co Ltd has hammered out six schemes ranging from flights, ground equipment, emergency precautions, and transfer guidance plans to make sure the transfer is smooth, said Yan Zhiqing, president of the airline company.

He said he is fully confident of an efficient transfer.

China Southern Airline Co Ltd will transfer 31 aircraft and 656 vehicles to the new location on the night of August 4.

With an investment of 19.8 billion yuan (US$2.39 billion), the new airport broke ground in 2000.

The new airport passed the final State appraisal on June 30 with an "excellent" rating.

Editor: Donald