Beijing's planned second airport could be built in neighboring Tianjin City or Hebei Province, an official told the Beijing Evening News.

The proposal had been handed to the National Development and Reform Commission for approval, the official said at the 14th World Route Development Forum, which concluded yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The site of the airport was expected to be made public by the year's end, the official said. The regional economy, air space, geology, climate and distance to Beijing all accounted for it being chosen as the site for the new airport, the official indicated.

After completion, the new airport would handle domestic flights while Beijing Capital International Airport would focus on international flights, the report said.

The international airport now has an annual capacity of nearly 80 million people after a third terminal opened in February. However, it was not enough to meet expected demand of 100 million within eight years, the report said.

To cope with the situation, the National Development and Reform Commission wants a second airport built.

(Shanghai Daily October 16, 2008)