Guangzhou Expands Aviation Capacity with New Foshan Airport Project
Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, commenced construction of its second airport in Foshan on Wednesday, March 26, 2026, to address growing aviation demand and strengthen the region’s position as a key transportation hub in southern China. The project is anticipated to bolster the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s (GBA) connectivity and economic integration.
Strategic Location and Regional Impact
The new airport is located in Gaoming district, Foshan, situated in the western part of the Greater Bay Area. Ling Yuzhen, chief engineer of the Guangdong Airport Authority’s construction command, emphasized the project’s role in optimizing the region’s airport network and building a world-class airport cluster. Currently, aviation infrastructure is more developed in the eastern GBA than in the west, and this project aims to address that imbalance. China Daily
Upon completion, the airport will serve over 20 million residents across Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Yangjiang, Yunfu, and surrounding areas in western Guangdong, as well as parts of southwestern China. It will complement Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, promoting coordinated development and enhancing connectivity within the region.
Project Details and Investment
The first phase of the project requires a total investment of 41.81 billion yuan (approximately $6.06 billion USD), with 35.91 billion yuan allocated to core airport construction. The airport will feature two parallel runways, a 260,000-square-meter terminal building, 94 aircraft parking positions, and supporting infrastructure.
The facility is designed to handle over 30 million passengers annually, along with 500,000 metric tons of cargo and mail, and 260,000 aircraft movements. By 2050, passenger throughput is projected to exceed 60 million, establishing the airport as a crucial civil aviation hub for the western Greater Bay Area and reinforcing Guangzhou’s status as an international aviation center.
Foshan’s Integration and Greater Bay Area Growth
Foshan, a prefecture-level city bordering Guangzhou, is strategically positioned near Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao, forming one of the three major economic pillars of the Greater Bay Area. Deeper integration with the Guangzhou metropolitan area is a key priority for Foshan, with plans for improved connectivity via high-speed railways and expressways. China Daily
Huang Kunming, Party secretary of Guangdong province, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. Official data indicates that the Greater Bay Area’s seven airports handled 237 million passengers and 9.72 million tons of cargo and mail in 2025, ranking it among the world’s leading aviation hubs. China Daily
Airports Council International forecasts that air passenger demand in the Greater Bay Area will reach 420 million by 2035.