Implementing the integrated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area is a major national strategy. From the aspect of a pioneering breakthrough into the transportation industry, it is important for civil aviation to take a leading role.

At the launch ceremony of the integrated development of civil aviation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, people turned their attention not only to the launch of Tianjin Airport, but also to the newly released document on the integrated development of civil aviation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The document aims to push forward the development of Tianjin's aviation industry by strengthening the hub function of Tianjin Airport, putting more effort in the development of aviation distribution, further promoting the launch of low cost airlines, implementing the smooth connection of airlines and railways, and enhancing aviation manufacturing.

Wang Changyi, the director of the planning department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said that according to research on the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area by the North China Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the aviation industries in the three places share features such as busy regional aviation business and extremely unbalanced development.

The integrated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area's aviation industry meets the inner requirement of the three markets.

"The released document confirms 12 major tasks. It is expected that an aviation development pattern with clear positioning, integrated operation, mutual benefits and win-win results, and features that are desirable for the development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city cluster will be formed in the year of 2020," said Wang.

"In time, the aviation transportation resource allocation will be more reasonable, the airline website will be clearer, the service system will be more complete, the transportation will be more efficient, and its connection with ground transportation systems will be smoother,"added Wang.

Wang also said that "the document will better support the major national strategy of the integrated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, which will realize mutual promotion, continuous and healthy development and positive recycling."

Among these 12 major tasks, Tianjin Airport, which has irreplaceable key functions, will integrate with airports in Beijing and Hebei province.

"The first step is to construct a regional airport system with completed functions, which sets the hub airports as their center, sets branch airports as the main body, and sets general airports as the complemented regional airport system. Tianjin Airport will help to strengthen the hub airport function and greatly drive the development of aviation distribution," said Wang.

Considering optimizing the regional airport airline website, related departments will encourage airline companies to transit parts of their schedules to Tianjin Airport and Shijiazhuang Airport and provide policy support on the schedule arrangements.

In addition, the departments will support Tianjin Airport's expansion to both domestic and international connecting airlines, which will greatly improve the airline website connectivity of certain markets, such as freight distribution.

Furthermore, policies will encourage Tianjin Airport and Shijiazhuang Airport to build branch offices and bases for low cost airlines, to complete related facilities for low cost operations of the airports, and to enjoy preferential policies on aircraft import and schedule arrangements.

The three places will also get together to build and utilize city terminal buildings in different cities, and develop themselves as alternative airports for one another, which will finally reflect the advantages of a united management system.

Talking about airline and railway connections, which is a popular issue among visitors to places around Tianjin city, the document coordinates with related departments the expedition of the railway construction project that expands and builds railways between the Beijing-Tianjin high-speed railway line and Tianjin's airport.

Moreover, Tianjin will establish a comprehensive transportation system that is centered on the main hub airports, which will add more trains and buses travelling between airports and train stations to promote the development of the integrated transportation of airlines and railways, and airlines and ground transportation.

Thanks to the comprehensive transportation system, Tianjin will finally realize one transportation card to go through airline and railways.

From the aspect of aviation industrial development, the policies support Tianjin to build an international aviation distribution center in North China, which will serve to enhance the development of the aviation industry such as aviation manufacturing, aviation economics, mail delivery and distribution, and aircraft maintenance.

The policies will also attract high technology enterprises, and modern service corporations into the center, and serve to promote the orderly transition of the aviation industry of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.

The document also talks about the government's strengthening of its preferential policies to support investment and financing in the aviation industry.

The government will provide Tianjin with preferential policies on the funding and arrangement of aviation development to promote major construction programs that will boost the integrated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.

Meanwhile, the government will reform the investment and operation mechanism, expand the investment and financing channels, and actively attract civil capital to invest in civil aviation.

The integrated development of Beijing and Tianjin is turning Tianjin Airport into a second channel to enter Beijing by air, which will make the phrase "being in Tianjin is being in Beijing" come true.

Yan Xin, the general manager of Tianjin Airport said that over the following five years, Tianjin will spare no efforts to build Tianjin Airport into a safe, convenient, green, cultural, smart, beautiful, and harmonious airport with a clear brand image. Tianjin Airport will try to be a leader and a role model in the industry.

The amount of visitors and the amount of freight going through Tianjin Airport is expected to reach 20 million and 400,000 tons respectively by the year 2017, and is expected to reach 30 million and 600,000 tons respectively by 2020. Tianjin Airport will rapidly grow into one of the most important airports with the greatest potential in China.