Guangzhou Airport: Which County Does It Serve?

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is located in the Guangdong province of China. The airport is one of the busiest in the country, with a high volume of passenger traffic and cargo turnover. It is a major hub for several airlines, including China Southern Airlines, FedEx Express, and Hainan Airlines. The airport has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, with the most recent expansion plan aiming to increase its capacity to handle even more passengers, freight, and aircraft movements annually.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport's location

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is located in the Guangdong province of China. The airport is in the north of Guangzhou, at the junction of the North Ren He County of Baiyun District and the East Xin Hua County of Hua Du. It is 28 kilometres away from downtown Guangzhou.

The airport is sometimes referred to as 'New Baiyun' to distinguish it from the previous airport of the same name, which was closed in 2004. The former airport, which opened in 1933, was located 14 miles (23 kilometres) south of the new airport. The IATA code for the new airport, CAN, was inherited from the former airport, and is derived from Guangzhou's historical romanisation, Canton.

The new airport opened on 5 August 2004, with a single runway. Since then, three additional runways have been constructed, with the third opening in 2015, and the fourth in January 2025. The airport is currently undergoing further expansion, with a third phase expansion plan approved by the National Development and Reform Commission of China. This will include the addition of a third terminal, a satellite concourse, and two more runways.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is one of China's busiest airports, serving 63.1 million passengers in 2023. It is connected to downtown Guangzhou by the S41 Guangzhou Airport Expressway, and there are several public bus and shuttle bus services that run between the airport and the city.

The airport's history

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The airport is about 28 kilometres from Haizhu Square in the city centre. Guangzhou is one of China's four major railway hubs and the largest in South China.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport opened on 5 August 2004, replacing the former airport of the same name. The former airport, originally known as Canton Civil Airport (White Cloud) or Pai Yuen Airport, was one of the first civil airports in China, opening in November 1933. The construction of the old airport began in 1932. The airport was renamed "Baiyun", which means "'white cloud' in Chinese, due to its proximity to Baiyun Mountain.

During the 1960s, the airport underwent significant expansion, with the runway being extended to 2,500 metres. In 1963, the airport became solely for public use when the People's Liberation Army Air Force moved away. In the 1980s, the airport underwent further renovations to meet international standards, including expanding the terminal buildings and improving facilities. Despite these expansions, the growing city of Guangzhou eventually surrounded the airport, hindered its ability to expand further.

The new airport features four runways, with the fourth opening in January 2025, making it the fourth airport in China to have a four-runway system. The airport is undergoing a third phase expansion, which will add a new terminal, a satellite concourse, and an additional runway. The expansion will enable the airport to handle an annual capacity of 120 million passengers, solidifying its position as a crucial global gateway.

Transport options to and from the airport

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is located in Guangdong province, China. The airport is 35 km away from downtown Guangzhou.

There are several transport options for getting to and from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. These include:

• Metro: The Guangzhou metro is an excellent option for getting to and from the airport, with trains running on Line 3 to and from the city centre from 6 am to 11 pm. The metro station is located directly below the airport terminal building, with Airport South serving Terminal 1 and Airport North serving Terminal 2. The journey to the city centre takes around 30 minutes, and tickets cost €0.70 (CNY 5) or 7RMB.
• Bus: There are many shuttle buses that travel to and from the airport to downtown Guangzhou, with bus stops located outside the airport's main arrival exit doors. On average, the journey takes around 1 hour. Tickets can be purchased at the airport's bus ticket counters or from the CAAC counter in the airport building.
• Taxi: Taxis are available at the airport and provide 24/7, safe and reliable door-to-door transportation to the city centre. The journey takes around 30 minutes, and fares are calculated based on time and distance travelled. The approximate cost for a taxi ride from the airport to downtown Guangzhou is €17 (CNY 120) or RMB150.
• Car Hailing Apps: Fares for car-hailing apps, such as Didi, are similar to taxi fares. For example, a ride from the airport to Haizhu Square was estimated at RMB101.
• Hotel Shuttle: Many hotels in Guangzhou offer free shuttle bus services to and from the airport, but reservations are usually required.
• Train: For those looking to travel to Hong Kong, there is a direct train from Guangzhou East Rail Station, which can be reached via the metro from the airport.

Airlines that use the airport as a hub

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, formerly known as Canton Civil Airport, is located in Huadu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The airport is one of the first civil airports in China, opening in November 1933. It is now one of the world's busiest airports by passenger traffic, handling 63.1 million passengers in 2023.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including:

• China Southern Airlines: The airport's anchor tenant, China Southern Airlines, has significantly benefited from the airport's 24-hour operation capability, allowing it to maximise intercontinental route utilisation with overnight flights. The airline has an almost 50 percent share of the capacity on offer from the airport, and it has been instrumental in the airport's growth strategy to develop it as a major hub.
• FedEx Express: In 2005, FedEx Express relocated its Asia-Pacific hub to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, making it the largest FedEx hub outside the United States at the time. The hub covers an area of approximately 63 hectares and provides delivery services to major cities in Asia, connecting them to numerous countries worldwide.
• Hainan Airlines: Hainan Airlines is another airline that utilises Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as a hub. It is one of the closest rivals to China Southern Airlines in terms of capacity share at the airport.
• Shenzhen Airlines: Shenzhen Airlines also uses the airport as a hub and is in direct competition with Hainan Airlines regarding capacity share.
• 9 Air: 9 Air is a smaller airline that has established Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as its hub.

The airport's expansion plans, including the addition of runways and terminals, further solidify its position as a significant global aviation hub.

The airport's terminals and runways

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport currently has four runways and two terminals. The airport is located in Huadong Town, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong, China. The airport is about 35km from downtown Guangzhou.

The airport's former curfews and restrictions no longer apply, allowing it to operate 24 hours a day. The third runway, which opened in 2015, can only be used for landing due to airspace conflicts with Foshan Shadi Airport. The fourth runway opened on 23 January 2025, making Guangzhou Baiyun Airport the fourth airport in China to have a four-runway system. The four-runway system will operate with the inner runways dedicated to take-off and the outer runways to landing. The airport can now handle up to 1,546 daily flight movements.

Terminal 1 has three components: the Main Terminal, Area A, and Area B. All check-in counters and most retail stores are located in the Main Terminal. Terminal 2, which opened in 2018, is one of the largest terminal facilities in the world. It is the primary hub for China Southern Airlines and its SkyTeam partners. Terminal 2 also houses airlines such as China Airlines, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Saudia, Thai Airways International, and more. A free shuttle bus service connects the two terminals, and a new transport centre is under construction on the south side of Terminal 2.

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