Sports: Beijing airport gears up for Games

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Bejing, July 12 : Beijing's main airport will likely handle more flights than London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulle during the 2008 Olympics and be ''challenged'' by the increased passenger numbers, a state newspaper said today.

''An average of 1,150 flights take off and land at the airport every day now. But during the Games, the number will be between 1,700 and 2,000,'' the China Daily quoted Zhang Yuehua, in charge of air traffic plans for the Games, as saying.

Even with the opening of a third runway next March, that number could prove hard to handle, he said.

''When the daily movement reaches 1,700 or the capital airport encounters thunderstorms that last less than an hour, we will launch the blue scheme, under which additional air routes will be opened,'' Zhang said.

When that number hits 1,900, or flights need to be diverted to Beijing from another Olympic host city -- like Qingdao where the sailing will take place -- non-Olympic flights will be suspended and the military asked to open up its airspace, he said.

China's military controls much of the nation's airspace.

Nearby airports will also be put on standby to take diverted flights if bad weather closes Beijing for several hours.

But the report did not say what would happen under a code red -- if an aircraft is hijacked or if there is a terror attack.

Beijing's airport, currently in the middle of a huge expansion, is frequently hit by delays over the summer when thunderstorms strike the capital, often leading to angry scenes as passengers demand information from uncooperative staff.

The government has been trying to improve generally poor service standards at airports and on Chinese airlines ahead of the Games, worried delays and rudeness will tarnish China's image.

Reuters

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