Beijing Capital Airport was ranked ninth biggest in the world in terms of passenger numbers last year according to the Airports Council International (ACI).

An aeroview of Beijing Capital Airport. The airport was ranked ninth biggest in the world in terms of passenger numbers last year according to the Airports Council International (ACI). [Xinhua]

Beijing Capital Airport became the first Chinese airport ranked among the top ten with a total of 48.5 million passengers in 2006. Atlanta International Airport in the U.S. was first with 84.84 million passengers.

Hong Kong International Airport was ranked the 14th, up from 16th in 2005, Asia's third biggest after Tokyo Haneda and Beijing.

Shanghai Pudong Airport ranked sixth in cargo volume, handling 2.16 million tons, followed by Beijing, 21st at 1.03 million tons, and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, 25th with 825,000 tons of cargo, in 2006.

Pudong Airport saw the world's fastest rise in cargo volume in 2006 with an annual growth of 16.3 percent.

U.S.-based express delivery giant UPS is to establish its Asia-Pacific transfer center at Pudong Airport, while another giant DHL is currently evaluating its project of locating the North Asia transfer center there.

Hong Kong International Airport was ranked second in cargo volume after U.S. Memphis International Airport, headquarters of FedEx, for the seventh consecutive year since 2000 by a small margin of 83,000 tons.

Airports around the world handled 4.4 billion passengers and 84.5 million cubic tons of cargo last year, according to the ACI.

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