Aéroports de Paris strengthens Beijing connection

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Beijing Capital International Airport Co (BCIA) and Aéroports de Paris Management (ADPM) have made new steps in cooperation, a BCIA official told the Xinhua News Agency this week.

Aéroports de Paris has been involved in planning work for Beijing's terminal 2 transfer procedures and traffic analysis for Air China in Beijing. ADPM holds a 9.99% stake in the BCIA airport company and has pledged to provide at least five years of consultancy services.

ADPM chief representative and project director in China Patrice Hardel commented: "We are helping Beijing draw up a master plan for the whole airport for the next 20 to 30 years. Once approved by the Chinese government, implementation of the master plan in stages will be the main focus for future cooperation, especially the renovation of terminal 1 and evaluation of terminal 2's capacity."

The international traffic expected during the 2008 Olympic Games has meant the acceleration of Beijing airport's ten-year plan, which includes two additional runways. Plans also include increasing the number of duty-free shops. Airport subsidiary Beijing Duty Free will soon open eight additional fashion brand stores. Some experts have said growth of domestic traffic is an even bigger spur to growth and may result in a completely new airport.