Out with the old, in with the new as China flies toward the future

WITH THE OFFICIAL CLOSING of Beijing Nanyuan Airport on Sept 25 and the moving of its civil aviation operations to the newly opened Beijing Daxing International Airport, the capital is prepared for the day China becomes the world's largest aviation market. China Daily writer Wang Yiqing comments:

China United Airlines KN5830 was the last plane to land at Beijing Nanyuan Airport. Its arrival at 22:10, Sept 25 marked the official end to the civil aviation passenger transport history of China's oldest airport.

Beijing Nanyuan Airport was the starting point for China's aviation industry. It was launched in 1910 near the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and was used for military aviation, and as a test and training center. In 1913, China's first aviation school was built at Nanyuan airport, which trained more than 150 pilots for the country within 15 years.