Core Points - The successful operation of the new South Runway at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport marks the airport's transition into the "three-runway" era [2] - The third runway is part of a significant national construction project under the "14th Five-Year Plan" and is supported by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, representing a key development for Shaanxi Province's civil aviation [2] - The South Runway, measuring 3,000 meters in length and 45 meters in width, enhances the airport's capacity significantly and is equipped with 530 smart sensors for real-time data monitoring [2] - The operational shift of domestic flights from Terminal 3 to the new Terminal 5 aims to improve passenger efficiency and service experience [2] Industry Impact - The successful launch of the South Runway and the optimization of airline operations provide a core impetus for upgrading Xi'an Xianyang International Airport as a hub [3] - The airport aims to leverage the "three-runway" operation to enhance its hub capabilities and service levels, contributing to the high-quality development of civil aviation in the northwest region and supporting national strategic initiatives [3]

Core Insights - The successful launch of the Southern Second Runway at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport marks the airport's transition into the "three-runway" era, enhancing regional air transport capacity and supporting local economic development [1][3]. Group 1: Infrastructure Development - The Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Phase III expansion project is a key national construction project under the "14th Five-Year Plan" and is supported by the Civil Aviation Administration of China as a national aviation benchmark demonstration project [3]. - The Southern Second Runway, measuring 3,000 meters in length and 45 meters in width, is built to 4F standards and, along with the Northern Second Runway and the existing Southern First Runway, creates a "three-runway linkage" that increases the airport's annual passenger capacity to 83 million and cargo throughput to 1 million tons [3][8]. - The airport has evolved from a regional airport with one runway to an international hub with three runways and four terminals over the past 30 years [3]. Group 2: Operational Coordination - To ensure smooth operations, the Xi'an Airport Company established a specialized leadership group and a three-tier command system, coordinating efforts with various stakeholders, including the Northwest Air Traffic Management Bureau and the Airport Construction Command [5]. - Multiple rounds of joint trial operations and comprehensive simulations were conducted to enhance coordination in critical areas such as runway switching, flight scheduling, and passenger guidance [5]. Group 3: Airline Transition and Resource Optimization - Concurrent with the Southern Second Runway's launch, seven airlines successfully transitioned their domestic flights from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5, optimizing resource efficiency and adjusting flight routes [7]. - The airport strategically divided the functions of the east and west terminals and allocated resources to alleviate the long-standing pressure on Terminal 3, thereby improving passenger flow efficiency and service experience [7][8]. Group 4: Future Prospects - The successful operation of the Southern Second Runway and the optimization of airline layouts inject core momentum into the hub upgrade of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, positioning it to enhance its hub capabilities and service levels, contributing to the high-quality development of civil aviation in Northwest China [8].