GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 04, 2025 — Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport’s Terminal 3 officially commenced operations on October 30th, marked by the smooth takeoff of China Eastern Airlines flight MU6308, operated by a C919 aircraft and bound for Beijing Daxing International Airport. This achievement ushers Baiyun Airport into a new operational phase featuring “five runways and three terminals,” significantly boosting the development of a world-class airport cluster and advancing Guangzhou’s goal of becoming a comprehensive, multi-modal international aviation hub and gateway.
C919 Conducts Inaugural Flight: Passengers Experience a Historic Moment
On the launch afternoon, Baiyun Airport held a lively and festive inaugural flight ceremony at Terminal 3. All passengers on flight MU6308, deemed “lucky passengers” of the first departure from T3, received a bespoke commemorative gift jointly provided by Baiyun Airport and China Eastern Airlines. Ms. Li, an inaugural flight passenger, expressed her excitement: “It’s even smarter than I anticipated. The check-in and baggage drop procedures were exceptionally smooth, and the terminal’s aesthetic is beautiful. This journey is truly unforgettable.”
Significantly, the first inbound flight to T3—flight MU2219 from Lanzhou—was honored with civil aviation’s highest welcome: a water salute. “This is my first water salute experience, and it perfectly aligned with Baiyun’s T3 opening. I feel incredibly lucky!” remarked Ms. Zhang, a newly deplaned passenger. “From the air, the terminal’s ‘Flower Crown of the City of Rams’ design truly lives up to its name. It’s breathtaking!”
Smart and Convenient: Hardware Enhancements for an Improved Travel Experience
The newly inaugurated Terminal 3 features a “flower” theme, drawing inspiration from Guangzhou’s local characteristics such as Baiyun Mountain, the Pearl River, and its identity as the “Flower City.” The architectural design, resembling a blooming flower, forms the “Flower Crown of the City of Rams” image, establishing it as a landmark gateway for Guangzhou to the world. In terms of hardware, the terminal seamlessly integrates “smart technology” with “human-centric design” to elevate the passenger journey.
The terminal is outfitted with extensive passenger service facilities, including: 199 check-in counters (offering fully self-service, convertible, and fully-staffed options); 60 self-service check-in kiosks; 59 self-service baggage drop units (57 convertible staff/self-service, 2 fully self-service); 87 jet bridges; 886 Flight Information Display Screens (FIDS); and 7,193 public address system speakers. Security screening efficiency has been enhanced with 31 domestic and 9 international security lanes (with an additional 8 planned for future use). The terminal innovatively incorporates a “centralized security screening + RFID smart tray return” system. Its 21 dual-door self-verification gates can complete an identity check every 6 seconds, boasting a misidentification rate below 0.1%. The accurate linking of “passenger-tray-baggage” ensures a more streamlined security process. Transportation connectivity is also more convenient; the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) integrates highway, railway, urban public transit, and air travel. It is bordered by the P11 and P12 parking garages, providing approximately 2,800 parking spaces (1,800 available during the initial opening phase), facilitating seamless “fly-and-ride” transfers.
Notably, T3’s smart construction has achieved two industry firsts. It stands as the first large-scale hub airport terminal in China to fully implement Building Information Modeling (BIM) for smart construction, pioneering a comprehensive management approach covering all personnel, areas, disciplines, and the entire lifecycle. This positions it as a demonstration project for digital design in civil aviation and a new industry standard. Furthermore, T3 is China’s first terminal to achieve paperless archiving. All building information is stored in electronic data packages combining “spatial data + facility/equipment information,” offering precise data support for future operations, management, and maintenance. On September 24, 2025, the “Smart Construction Practice Based on openBIM for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport’s Phase III Expansion Project T3 Terminal” was awarded the grand prize (Winner, only one per category) in the Global Construction category at the buildingSMART International openBIM Awards.
Five Runways, Three Terminals: Reinforcing the Comprehensive Gateway Function
Evolving from its initial “two runways and one terminal” configuration to the current “five runways and three terminals,” Baiyun Airport’s expansion lays the groundwork for a substantial leap in its hub capacity. This enhanced infrastructure encourages airlines to boost frequencies on popular routes and introduce new international and domestic services. This expansion helps Guangzhou reinforce its role as a comprehensive gateway that is “nationally connected, intercontinentally linked, and globally reaching,” thereby contributing to the establishment of a 12-hour global air travel circle.
Since the start of this year, Baiyun Airport has collaborated with airlines to launch, reinstate, or increase frequencies on over 30 international passenger routes. These include the resumption of IndiGo’s Kolkata-Guangzhou service on October 27 and the successful inauguration of Air Algérie’s Algiers-Guangzhou route on October 28. As a nationally designated comprehensive gateway and multi-modal international aviation hub, Baiyun Airport consistently enhances its function as a key node of the “Air Silk Road,” broadening and deepening its route network. It has welcomed five new international carriers—Air Astana, VietJet Airlines (Vietnam), Uzbekistan Airways, Nepal Airlines, and Air Algérie—further extending its global network of partners. In the new aviation season, scheduled passenger flights at Baiyun Airport have reached 10,728 movements per week, offering travelers a wider array of choices.
Moving forward, Baiyun Airport will leverage the opening of Terminal 3 as a fresh starting point to foster synergistic development and complementary roles among airports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, collectively forming a world-class airport cluster. Simultaneously, with smarter facilities, more human-centric services, and more efficient operations, the airport will aim to set a benchmark for high-quality development in China’s civil aviation industry, playing its part in Guangdong’s efforts to lead the nation’s modernization drive.
Source: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
CONTACT: Contact person: Ms. Luo, Tel: 86-10-63074558
