Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport would become the country's first e-airport upon completion of its public data system in 2007, the Guangzhou Daily reported Wednesday.

The system would enable passengers to get the latest information about the airport and flights, such as ticket prices, flight delays and stores in the airport, the report said.

An expert team approved the e-airport plan Tuesday, and the transformation work would start soon. The project, with an investment of 1 billion yuan (US$123 million), is expected to solve some existing problems, facilitate passengers and alleviate the heavy passenger flow in the airport, according to the report.

The system can free passengers from the headaches of flight delay with comprehensive information about the arrival time, exact location of the aircraft and the reason for delay. Passengers can just log onto the system to know about such information that is unavailable now.

Passengers do not know that many airport stores are currently selling inexpensive and high-quality goods. The new system will release all the information for passengers to check, such as where to find a Guangdong restaurant in the airport, as well as the menu prices.

Once the prices change, the system will update the information instantly.

An e-boarding pass facility will be included in the system. After going through the boarding procedures, passengers will have special labels attached to their boarding passes that send out information about the exact location of the cardholders. When the passenger doesn't show up at the boarding gate when boarding ends, the airport will know the precise location of the passenger and urge him to board.

The system will also enable passengers to go through the boarding procedures and security check at another place outside Guangzhou before boarding.

(Shenzhen Daily September 15, 2005)