The airplane carrying the 8th million passenger lands at Sunan Shuofang International Airport on Nov 29. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
Sunan Shuofang International Airport in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, welcomed its eighth million passenger this year on Nov 29, marking its annual passenger throughput exceeding eight million for the first time.
Air passenger throughput is an important symbol of local economic development, opening up, and vitality. "The arrival of the eighth million passenger marks Shuofang airport entering a new development phase," noted an official at the airport.
Passengers line up to check in at Sunan Shuofang International Airport. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
In 2016 the airport's passenger throughput reached five million for the first time, one year later, the number exceeded six million, and one year later again, the number exceeded seven million.
The airport is expected to see the landing and takeoff of 72,000 airplanes and handle more than 8.7 million passengers and over 120,000 metric tons of cargo and mail this year.
Airplanes park at Sunan Shuofang International Airport. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]
As of now, Shuofang airport has cooperated with 15 airlines, operated 77 routes in a year reaching 61 cities at home and abroad, and resumed six international (regional) passenger air routes.
The airport's annual passenger throughput is predicted to amount to 21.5 million and its annual cargo throughput is expected to reach 780,000 tons by 2035.
