Beijing airport reports slow passenger growth
The global economic slowdown has hit arrivals at Beijing Capital International Airport. Its combined throughput of passengers and cargo grew by just 1.6% in the first 10 months of the year, the lowest since 2000, China Daily reported.
Zhang Zhizhong, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Airports Holding Co said the airport had been hit by the economic slowdown. “In the first half of November, the number was down by 5-6% year on year,” he was quoted saying.
October was the only strong month as people flocked to Beijing after it hosted the Beijing Olympics, the paper said. But growth has been down in the first quarter and slowed further in the second and third quarters, he was quoted saying.
Last year, the airport handled 53 million passengers, making it the world’s ninth busiest, the report said. Zhang was quoted saying that airlines were being encouraged to boost flight numbers.
“With international arrivals down, we have suggested airlines increase domestic flights so we can fight the economic slowdown together,” he added.
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