Shijiazhuang Airport in Hebei province opened the Chongqing-Shijiazhuang-Yantai route to Western Airlines on June 2, marking a major step in becoming a regional air hub.

The airport now has 21 routes linking 28 domestic cities.

The manager of the marketing department of Hebei Airport Management Group said that Hebei aviation started late and was slow to develop, but Shijiazhuang Airport possessed good conditions such as location and layout of the surrounding route network. In order to provide convenience to local passengers and support to Hebei’s economic development, Hebei aviation has to improve its development via low-cost operation, fine-tuned management and special passenger services.

As Shijiazhuang Airport makes use of opening indirect routes with discount tickets, new tourist airlines and international tourist charters, it will stimulate summer air travel.

By Guo Changdong and Wang Meng