International airports in Beijing and Tianjin will be combined into one airport company, announced officials with the two airports Tuesday in Tianjin.

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) and Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TBIA) are about to be united to improve air transportation in north Asia, according to information from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Li Peiying, president of Group Company of Beijing Capital International Airport, said that the move is to help optimize the resources of the two airports and enhance competitiveness of both sides.

By avoiding repetitive construction and cut-throat competition, it will bring mutual benefit to both airports, which are about 130 kilometers apart, said Li.

Statistics show that in 2000 BCIA conveyed 21.69 million people and 774,000 tons of cargo, while TBIA conveyed 884,000 people and 53,000 tons of cargo.

(People’s Daily 01/16/2001)