China Eastern Airlines MU6308, the first flight to depart Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3, is pictured ahead of takeoff in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

The Baiyun airport in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Thursday officially put into operation its Terminal 3 and fifth runway, making it China's first civil airport to operate five commercial runways.

The expansion of the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, one of the country's three major international aviation hubs, is another step toward building a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In the near future, the airport will be able to handle 120 million passengers and 3.8 million tonnes of cargo and mail. With a terminal capacity of 140 million passengers and 6 million tonnes of cargo, it will be among the world's busiest airports in both categories.

The expansion project took five years and cost 53.77 billion yuan (about 7.6 billion U.S. dollars). It also includes an integrated transport center designed to improve air, rail and road connectivity.

This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2025 shows a scene at the inauguration ceremony of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken outside Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 shows an airliner landing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows an interior view of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows an exterior view of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2025 shows an exterior view of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Passengers check in to take China Eastern Airlines MU6308, the first flight to depart Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows jetways at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows an interior view of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

This photo taken on Oct. 30, 2025 shows an interior view of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

An art performance is staged at the inauguration ceremony of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)