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Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (IATA: CAN, ICAO: ZGGG), formerly known as Canton Civil Airport, is located in Guangzhou, China. It is one of the three largest air hubs in the country, serving Guangdong province's capital city. The airport is China's second busiest, handling over 56 million passengers in 2014 and serving as a hub for China Southern Airlines. With four runways and one passenger terminal, it offers non-stop flights to destinations across the world. The airport features a unique package and sorting system, and a free shuttle bus connects its two terminals.
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What You'll Learn
- History: formerly Canton Civil Airport, opened in 1933, closed in 2004
- FedEx hub: relocated from Subic Bay International Airport in 2005
- Passenger traffic: China's second busiest airport, with 56 million passengers in 2014
- Location: 17 miles north of downtown Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Facilities: one terminal, three runways, two boarding areas, five shuttle buses
History: formerly Canton Civil Airport, opened in 1933, closed in 2004
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, formerly known as Canton Civil Airport or Pai Yuen Airport, first opened in November 1933. It was one of the first civil airports in China and served the city of Guangzhou, the capital of South Central China's Guangdong province.
The airport started construction in 1932 and was invaded by the Japanese Navy during the Canton Operation, who expanded the runway. In 1963, the People's Liberation Army Air Force moved away, making the airport for public use only. The airport's name was changed to "Baiyun", which means "white cloud" in Chinese, named after the nearby Baiyun Mountain.
From 1964 to 1967, the airport underwent a significant expansion, adding 725,300 square meters and extending the runway to 2,500 meters. In the 1980s, the airport underwent further renovations and expansions to meet the standards of international first-class airports. During this time, it served a variety of international airlines and was China's third-busiest airport in terms of cargo traffic.
By the 1990s, the airport had become surrounded by high-rise buildings, hindering its ability to expand further to meet passenger demands. On 2 October 1990, a tragic incident occurred when Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301 was hijacked and crashed into another plane during landing, resulting in 128 casualties.
By 2002, the passenger throughput had reached over 16 million passengers, and cargo and mail throughput reached nearly 600,000 tons. However, due to the limitations of its location, a decision was made to build a new airport. The original Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport closed on 5 August 2004, and all services were transferred to the new airport of the same name, located 23 kilometers north.
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FedEx hub: relocated from Subic Bay International Airport in 2005
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is a large airport with four runways, located in Guangzhou, China. The airport features a free shuttle bus between Terminals 1 and 2, and is connected to downtown Guangzhou by the S41 Guangzhou Airport Expressway.
In 2005, FedEx Express signed a contract with the airport authority to relocate its Asia-Pacific hub from Subic Bay International Airport in the Philippines to Baiyun Airport. FedEx's Asia-Pacific hub in Guangzhou covers an area of approximately 63 hectares (160 acres), with a total floor space of 82,000 square meters (880,000 sq ft). The hub has its own ramp control tower, a first for an international air express cargo company facility in China, which allows FedEx to control aircraft movements on the ground, as well as aircraft parking plans and loading and unloading priorities.
At the beginning of its operation, the Guangzhou hub employed more than 800 people and operated 136 flights per week, providing delivery services to 20 major cities in Asia and linking these cities to over 220 countries and territories worldwide. The hub was expected to make Guangzhou one of the leading cargo airports in the world, and put the city at the center of the fastest-growing regional air-freight market in Asia.
FedEx's decision to relocate its Asia-Pacific hub to Guangzhou was influenced by several factors. Firstly, the company had been expanding its operations in China, particularly in the Pearl River Delta region, which produces a significant proportion of China's exports. Secondly, the civil aviation agreement signed between Washington and Beijing in July 2005 opened up opportunities for expanded U.S. freight services in China, making Baiyun International Airport a compelling choice for a freight-handling center. Additionally, some sources suggest that the Subic Bay facilities were unable to keep up with the growing demand, with a short runway and a ramp area that was too small.
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Passenger traffic: China's second busiest airport, with 56 million passengers in 2014
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, also known as CAN airport, is the second busiest airport in China. In 2014, it saw 56 million passengers.
The airport is located in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, China. It has four runways, with the fourth opening in January 2025. The airport is served by two metro stations on Line 3 of the Guangzhou Metro: Airport South Station (serving Terminal 1) and Airport North Station (serving Terminal 2). A free shuttle bus also connects the two terminals.
In addition to passenger traffic, the airport is a hub for FedEx Express, which relocated its Asia-Pacific base to Baiyun Airport in 2005. The FedEx hub covers 63 hectares, with a total floor space of 82,000 square meters. It was the largest FedEx hub outside the United States when it opened, employing over 800 people and operating 136 flights per week.
Baiyun Airport also has a unique package-sorting system, capable of sorting up to 24,000 packages per hour. This system includes 16 high-speed sorting lines, seven round-out conveyor belts, and 90 primary and secondary document-sorting splits.
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Location: 17 miles north of downtown Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Baiyun International Airport is located in the Baiyun and Huadu Districts of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The airport is 17 miles north of downtown Guangzhou, which is situated on the north bank of the Pearl River. The river branches off the Xi (West) River before meeting with the Dong (East) River, forming the northern border of the immense Pearl River Delta to the south. The Pearl River Delta Economic Zone is part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the most populous built-up metropolitan area in the world, with approximately 70 million residents.
Guangzhou is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. It is a regional centre in southern China, with a history of over 2,200 years and was a major terminus of the Silk Road. The city is heavily industrialized and is a key centre of science and commerce, with a large and extensive transportation network. Guangzhou has a subtropical monsoon (wet-dry) climate, which is typical of southeastern China.
The airport is connected to downtown Guangzhou by the S41 Guangzhou Airport Expressway. The Guangzhou–Foshan circular intercity railway, which is under construction, will serve three stations in the airport and connect it to the Panyu and Huadu railway stations. The airport is also served by the Airport South and North Stations on Line 3 of the Guangzhou Metro. In the future, the airport may be connected to downtown Guangzhou by the Guangzhou Metro Line 22. There are also five Airport Express lines and six Airport Non-stop lines between the airport and downtown.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has four runways and is one of the busiest airports in the country. The fourth runway, which opened in January 2025, made the airport the fourth in China to have a four-runway system.
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Facilities: one terminal, three runways, two boarding areas, five shuttle buses
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (IATA: CAN, ICAO: ZGGG) is a large airport serving the Guangdong province's capital city, Guangzhou. It is one of the three largest aviation hubs in China, handling over 48 million passengers in 2012 and more than 56 million in 2014. The airport is a hub for China Southern Airlines and a focus city for Shenzhen Airlines, with over 55 carriers operating from there.
The airport has one terminal with two boarding areas, A and B, each with three concourses. There are three runways, with a fourth opened in 2025, making it the fourth airport in China with a four-runway system. The third runway, which opened in 2015, was a significant boost to the airport's capacity, but it can only be used for landing due to airspace conflicts with Foshan Shadi Airport. The airport is planning to build two more runways to further increase capacity.
The airport has a range of facilities to serve its large number of passengers. A free shuttle bus connects Terminals 1 and 2, and there are five Airport Express lines and six Airport Non-stop lines between the airport and downtown Guangzhou. The airport is also served by the Guangzhou Metro Line 3, with Airport South Station serving Terminal 1 and Airport North Station serving Terminal 2. In the future, the airport may also be served by the Guangzhou Metro Line 22, providing another connection to downtown Guangzhou.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is also a significant cargo hub, with FedEx relocating its Asia-Pacific hub to the airport in 2005. The FedEx hub covers 63 hectares, with a total floor space of 82,000 square metres and its own ramp control tower. The advanced package and sorting system can handle up to 24,000 packages an hour.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was originally opened in 1933 as Canton Civil Airport (White Cloud) or Pai Yuen Airport. It was one of the first civil airports in China and served a variety of domestic and foreign airlines in the 1980s and 1990s. After several expansions, it was closed in 2004 due to deterioration, limited space, and overcrowding. A new airport with the same name was built and opened in the same year, located 14 miles north of the old airport.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has four runways and one passenger terminal with two boarding areas – A and B – and six concourses. There is a free shuttle bus between Terminals 1 and 2. The airport also has a unique package and sorting system, enabling the sorting of up to 24,000 packages per hour. Additionally, there is a limited number of duty-free stores, a CZ lounge, and a 1st class (and business class) lounge.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is one of the busiest airports in China, handling over 48 million passengers in 2012 and more than 56 million passengers in 2014. It is a hub for China Southern Airlines and a focus city for Shenzhen Airlines, with more than 55 carriers operating at the airport.
