High-speed rail to feed Hebei airport (3)

Diversion needed

Beijing faces the challenge of satisfying the increase of passengers with its limited traffic capacity. More than 81 million passengers used Beijing Capital International Airport in 2012, surpassing the designed capacity of 80 million.

Before the city's new airport comes into service in 2018, more than 37 million passengers in Beijing need to be diverted to neighboring airports, which requires the coordinated development of the Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang airports, according to the North China Regional Administration of Civil Aviation Administration of China.

"The detailed plan for diverting passengers will be released by the end of July," Li said.

Compared with Tianjin airport, the direct check-in in the railway station is the advantage of an airport in Shijiazhuang, he said.

In China, airports in metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai have fewer arrangements for more flights in recent years, while the neighboring airports didn't have enough passengers to make a profit, according to a Civil Aviation Administration report.

"It has been a trend to spread passengers to other airports, which requires smooth rail-air integration," Li said.