With the launch of a new terminal at Yichang Sanxia Airport, the city will embrace a new chapter as a modern comprehensive transportation hub, and drive the coordinated development of nearby regions, local officials said.

On Thursday, a flight of 9Air, a low-budget airline, flew from Yichang, Hubei province, to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, indicating the new terminal 2 of Yichang Sanxia Airport had been officially put into use.

The new terminal was built by China Construction First Group Corp Ltd. The official launch of the new terminal has been an important milestone worth remembering in the history of the airport, and it is also an important step that will push forward the industrial development of Yichang, according to the company.

The second-phase reconstruction and expansion project of the airport was approved in February 2017, and construction includes the building of the terminal area, fly area, air traffic control area, smart airport facilities and related transportation facilities.

"Carriers must connect as many small cities as possible to their hub airports to remain competitive. The sustainable growth of regional aviation is the core competitiveness of the Chinese airline industry," said Li Guijin, a professor at the Civil Aviation Management Institute of China in Beijing.

After the airport transfers all passengers taking flights from terminal 1 to terminal 2, terminal 1 will be renovated into a terminal designed for international flights, and it will complete the inspection and acceptance procedures by related authorities. Then, the airport will become the first regional international airport in Hubei.

Now, the terminal area of the airport has expanded from 14,800 square meters to 73,800 sq m, and the number of aircraft stands has increased from 11 to 21. The runway has been extended to 3.2 km, which can satisfy the takeoff and landing of wide-body aircraft such as a Boeing B767 and Airbus A330. This has provided support for the potential launch of long-haul intercontinental flight routes in the future.

Meanwhile, the smart infrastructure of airport transportation facilities has been comprehensively upgraded, and the airport can guarantee an annual passenger throughput of 5 million to 8 million people, and people who live in the region will benefit from the facilities, according to the local government.

The departure hall of terminal 2 has 16 check-in counters, including two self-service baggage check-in counters. The hall has 12 self-check-in machines. The hall is also equipped with 11 security check channels, which can significantly help reduce the time for passengers to wait in queues during peak periods.

The terminal is equipped with five boarding gates and three baggage claim carousel systems, and all of the seats are equipped with USB charging ports at their sides. In addition, terminal 2 has a commercial area of 3,070 sq m, and it provides comprehensive services such as catering, entertainment and shopping.