The sky over the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is witnessing an unprecedented boom.
In September, the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport was fully put into operation; in October, Terminal 3 and the 5th runway of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport were officially commissioned; in November, Shenzhen Bao’an Airport entered the “three-runway era.” Within just a few months, the three major aviation hubs in the GBA have successively completed major expansion and upgrading. A world-class airport cluster network is rapidly taking shape on both sides of the Pearl River Estuary.
Numbers testify to the urgency of this transformation. In the first three quarters of this year, the passenger throughput of the three major airports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong all increased by more than 8% year-on-year, demonstrating strong market vitality. In 2024, the total passenger throughput of the seven airports in the GBA historically exceeded 200 million. Airports Council International predicts that by 2035, the air passenger demand in this region will rise to 420 million. The continuous growth of passenger and cargo flows has put forward higher requirements for airport operational capacity and directly promoted the comprehensive upgrading of this infrastructure.
The upgrading of hardware capabilities has opened broader doors for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to connect with the world. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has added and put into operation its fifth runway, making it the first mainland airport with five commercial runways. In the future, it will focus on expanding its route network to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport’s third runway, built to the highest 4F standard, can meet the takeoff and landing needs of all large passenger and cargo aircraft, laying a solid foundation for the expansion of long-haul international routes. The full operation of Hong Kong International Airport’s three-runway system has further consolidated its leading position as an international aviation hub.
The construction of the airport cluster is far more than just the addition of runways and terminals; it is more about strengthening the “muscles and bones” and connecting the “blood vessels.” Nowadays, the travel experience when flying in the GBA is being redefined. At Baiyun Airport, passengers can transfer to high-speed rail to Zhuhai within 10 minutes of arrival; Hong Kong Airport’s fast ferry network covers multiple terminals in the GBA, with a direct 1-hour ferry ride from Zhongshan to the airport and the convenience of pre-check-in; Shenzhen Airport has closely linked the airport with the Eastern Technology Corridor through the Shenzhen-Daya Bay Intercity Railway… This three-dimensional transportation network carries not only passengers and goods but also opportunities, creativity, and the future. With the seamless connection between airports and high-speed rail, intercity railways, and fast ferries, the GBA’s “one-hour living circle” is turning from an ideal into reality.
Faced with broad development prospects, airports in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao are also actively exploring new paths for coordinated development. Guangzhou is striving to strengthen its gateway function to Southeast Asia, Africa, and other regions; Shenzhen focuses on serving the technological innovation and high-end manufacturing industries; Hong Kong continues to consolidate its core hub status in the global aviation network. Under the pattern of complementary advantages and coordinated development, the GBA airport cluster is gathering a synergy of “1+1+1>3.”
Looking back at the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the expansion and upgrading of the GBA airport cluster couldn’t have come at a better time. This is not merely an increase in the number of runways, but a leap forward in the GBA’s capacity to connect with the world. Next time you wait for a flight at a GBA airport, take a moment to observe your surroundings: there are entrepreneurs filled with anticipation for business negotiations, engineers brimming with confidence as they carry cutting-edge technologies, and fresh agricultural products ready to reach global markets. Every departing flight tells a vivid story of the GBA’s engagement with the world.
