Thousands of air passengers rushed to make it to flights at the new Guangzhou international airport yesterday and the planes took off right on schedule.

But the 4,200 passengers boarding planes along the parking apron did not fly very far. Their destination was only 20 or so kilometers away: the old airport.

The passengers were participating in an operational rehearsal for the new Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which next month is expected to replace the existing facility located near downtown.

The rehearsal was the second of its kind but on a much larger scale than the first, to ensure the new airport's operations can be successful.

In the wake of the first operational rehearsal late in May, in which some 2,000 people participated, yesterday's rehearsal was the last to work out flaws in the system before the airport is set to open on July 8.

It was widely described as being much more like a real day at the airport would be, with more participants, real aircraft, and more related departments and equipment involved.

According to Zhang Chunlin, president of Guangdong Airport Management Group, among the 4,000 participants were senior officials and executives playing the roles of VIPs and disabled passengers, including those who were blind and in wheelchairs. Zhang said all received timely help from crew members.

Departments taking part included all airport departments, customs, frontier inspection, as well as airline companies.

Unlike the first rehearsal, yesterday's trial operations included all machines and gadgets.

A total of 49 flights, including international and transit ones, were organized to test the flight work flow, three times as many as in the first rehearsal.

During the first rehearsal, some 150 problems, including some in the airport's broadcast system, communications, and luggage sorting, were spotted.

The problems have now been solved, China Daily was told.

"Whether the rehearsal is successful will help us greatly in deciding the date when the new airport takes over the existing one," Zhang said.

"The airport is eye-dazzling, the environment is nice, and all the machines are advanced," said Zhang Bin, one of the participants in yesterday's rehearsal. "The operational process is a great improvement over the existing one."

(China Daily June 16, 2004)