BEIHAI airport,in southwest China’s Guangxi Autonomous Region,handled 16.19 million tonnes of cargo and mail in the first five months,a sharp increase of 83.9 per cent year on year.Xinhua reports.

During this period,the airport registered a passenger volume of 286964 persons and an aircraft movement of 2893 flights.Passenger load factor was 70.3 per cent.

The airport’s cargo throughput grew seadily in this period thanks to rising demand brought by economic development in region.

Beihai airport plants to launch more routes to further improve its network and optimise flight schedule this year.It aims to achieve an annual cargo throughput target of 37 million tonnes and passenger target of 800000 persons,and will strive for 50 million tonnes and 900000 passengers.

Since implementing the new summer/fall schedule,the airport has launched several new routes including Beihai-Wenzhou-Jinan,Haikou-Beihai-Wuhan,Beihai-Hangzhou and Guiyang-Beihai-Guilin,and adjusted schedule of fights to Hong Kong,Shanghai,Chongqing,Chengdu,Guilin and Shenzhen.

Beihai airport is now operating 15 services to 16 destinations in north,east,central,south and southeast China.It will focus on launching new servifces to northeast and northwest this year.