Shenzhen is planning seven new bus routes from different districts to Bao'an International Airport, according to the municipal communications bureau Tuesday (June 13).

The bureau said the seven routes will be launched this year, However, the planned routes have not been mapped out in detail yet.

The new lines aim to ease the increasing pressure on public transport to the airport. Currently there are only two express lines to the airport, namely Bus No. 330 departing from Hualian Building in Futian District and K568 departing from the Shenzhen Railway Station in Luohu District. Four public bus routes (355, 327, 602 and 651) also link the city with the airport.

However, with the airport's annual handling capacity estimated to exceed 20 million passengers by 2008, existing public transportation facilities will not be able to cope.

Official statistics show that only 26 percent of passengers take public buses to the airport, compared to 44 percent by private cars and 26 percent by taxis.

The percentage of those using public transport is much lower than many foreign cities, even some Chinese cities, said an official with the bureau. People have cited the long time taken by public buses as the main reason for the low percentage.

The new bus routes to the airport will mainly open in Longgang, Yantian and Bao'an districts.

The communications bureau is actively seeking public suggestions for the planned bus routes. Two hotlines 8322-8000 and 8322-8111 were launched Tuesday to collect suggestions.

Editor: Wing