This article is based on an official press release from the Shenzhen Government and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

Shenzhen Airports Enters “Three-Runway Era” with Official Commissioning of New Infrastructure

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX) has officially commenced operations on its third runway, a major infrastructure milestone that elevates the hub’s capacity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The commissioning of the new runway on November 29, 2025, transitions Shenzhen into the select group of Chinese airports operating with three runways, aiming to alleviate operational pressure and support rapid passenger growth.

According to the official announcement, the operational launch began with the departure of Shenzhen Airlines flight ZH9103 bound for Beijing at 10:08 a.m. Shortly thereafter, the first arrival on the new strip was recorded when China Southern Airlines flight CZ3590 from Shanghai landed at 10:13 a.m.

Operational Launch and Technical Specifications

The newly commissioned third runway is situated on reclaimed land between the airport’s second runway and the Guangzhou–Shenzhen Riverside Expressway. Designated as a key project under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, the infrastructure is built to the highest aviation standards.

According to technical details released by the Shenzhen Government, the runway measures 3,600 meters in length and 45 meters in width. It holds a 4F-class rating, the highest classification in the industry, enabling it to accommodate the world’s largest commercial aircraft, including the Airbus A380.

Construction officials highlighted the efficiency of the project, noting that the main runway construction was completed in just 98 days using “smart construction” techniques. Zhu Fanghai, deputy commander of the Shenzhen airport construction commanding headquarters, emphasized the operational benefits of the expansion.

“The third runway, along with other two existing runways, will create more favorable conditions for opening new passenger and cargo routes, increasing flight frequencies, and expanding aviation capacity.”

, Zhu Fanghai, Deputy Commander of Shenzhen Airport Construction Headquarters

Capacity Expansion and Future Projections

The addition of the third runway comes as Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport experiences record-breaking traffic. Data provided by the airport authority indicates that annual passenger traffic surpassed 60 million for the first time in 2024. With the new infrastructure in place, the airport projects that annual passenger throughput will exceed 65 million in 2025.

Cargo operations are also expected to see significant growth. The airport projects annual cargo and mail throughput to surpass 2 million metric tons for the first time in 2025. Prior to this expansion, Shenzhen operated as one of the world’s busiest dual-runway airports, managing an annual capacity of up to 428,000 flight movements and peak single-day volumes exceeding 1,300 flights.

AirPro News Analysis

The commissioning of the third runway is a strategic necessity rather than a luxury for Shenzhen. Operating a dual-runway system with over 60 million passengers places immense strain on air traffic management and leads to inevitable congestion. By moving to a three-runway system, SZX can implement more flexible independent parallel approach modes, significantly boosting hourly movement rates.

We observe that this expansion is critical for the Greater Bay Area’s “world-class airport cluster” strategy. With Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) also operationalizing its third runway system, the airspace in the Pearl River Delta is becoming increasingly complex and high-capacity. Shenzhen’s expansion ensures it remains competitive for international long-haul routes and heavy cargo logistics, preventing leakage of traffic to nearby Guangzhou or Hong Kong due to capacity constraints.

Historical Context

Shenzhen’s aviation infrastructure has evolved rapidly over the last three decades. The airport’s first runway entered service upon the facility’s opening in 1991. The second runway followed twenty years later in 2011. The 2025 opening of the third runway marks the next major phase in the airport’s development, aligning with broader regional goals to handle 80 million passengers annually by 2030.

Sources

• Shenzhen Government Online