New Chengdu Airport: Tianfu International Airport completes first test flight

Southwest China's Chengdu is moving closer to launching its second international airport. On Tuesday, local departments completed the first maiden test flight at what will be called Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.

The plane, equipped with an advanced testing system developed by China, was closely monitored by staff at the airport's control tower. The test is a crucial step for the scheduled launching of the airport in the first half of next year. Construction on the new facility started back in 2016, and workers are now adding the final touches to its main terminals and towers. 

Once completed, the airport will be able to handle up to one hundred million passenger trips per year. And Chengdu will become only the third city in China to operate two international airports, following the capital Beijing and Shanghai. The new airport is a crucial part of the local strategy to expand the city's development, and cater to an increasing demand in southwest China for global travel.

LIN QING Deputy General Manager Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Branch "The ongoing test will last for about one month. It mainly focuses on calibrating the communication procedures, the navigation system, surveillance equipment, as well as runway signals. We hope that everything here goes safely and smoothly for the rest of the test, so that it ensures the successful launching of the airport next year."