Wuhan airport to build new terminal

A new terminal will be built in the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport before 2015 to meet increasing passenger demand in Central China's Hubei province, local media reported on Friday.

The project will cost about 16 billion yuan ($2.5 billion), and will occupy an area of 370,000 square meters with a 3,600-meter long and 60-meter wide runway, the Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

The new runway can guarantee the safe takeoff and landing of the Airbus A380, the report said.

The project, already approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, will start construction before October. The terminal will be built in a flying-phoenix shape, representing local culture.

A parking apron with capacity for 60 planes will also be built, the report said.

According to airport data, more than 12 million domestic and foreign passengers arrived at, or left from, the airport last year, only 1 million less than the airport's capacity of 13 million.

The airport is expected to receive about 14 million passengers this year.