A sculpture of a giant panda in the departure hall of Terminal 5 of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) is advancing a major infrastructure and network development program as it hosts Routes Asia 2026, with new terminal capacity and long-term expansion plans designed to support sustained passenger growth and a larger international role.
The opening of Terminal 5 in February 2025 marked a key milestone in the airport’s Phase III expansion project, which is intended to transform XIY into a major international hub serving western China and beyond. The new terminal spans more than 700,000 m², more than double the combined area of the existing Terminals 1, 2 and 3. It is designed to handle an annual passenger throughput of 50 million.
The broader expansion program includes plans for up to five runways, two terminal complexes and a total terminal area of 1.5 million m², with an ultimate design capacity of 120 million passengers annually. By 2030, the airport aims to handle 83 million passengers and 1 million tons of cargo.
The infrastructure investment is designed to support both domestic and international growth. Xi’an has developed a comprehensive domestic network in China, providing a strong foundation for transfer traffic and international expansion.
“We have built one of the densest domestic route systems in China, covering almost all major and medium-sized cities, which provides a solid passenger base for international and transfer growth,” Qiu Jing, senior supervisor of network development at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport operator China West Airport Group, tells Routes.
The airport’s hub strategy is built around cooperation with major Chinese carriers, particularly China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines. “We jointly plan routes, share market data and coordinate flight schedules to improve connectivity and transfer efficiency,” Jing says.
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China Eastern, the largest carrier at Xi’an, has led the development of international routes, while Hainan Airlines has focused on Southeast Asia and medium- to long-haul markets, creating what the airport describes as a “complementary and coordinated hub system.”
Xi’an’s geographic position remains central to its strategy, linking eastern and western China with Central Asia and Europe. This positioning is reinforced by China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which continues to drive connectivity between western China and international markets.
Looking ahead, the airport sees new aircraft technology as a key enabler of growth. The introduction of long-range narrowbodies and next-generation widebodies is expected to allow airlines to launch new routes that were previously uneconomic, particularly to secondary cities in Europe and Asia.
Additionally, hosting Routes Asia 2026 is expected to further support this by bringing together airlines, airports and industry stakeholders to explore new route opportunities.
“Air transport is a key driver of regional economic growth,” Jing says. “The opening of more air routes can promote trade exchanges, industrial cooperation and resource sharing between regions. On one hand, it will attract more investment from both domestic and foreign enterprises, driving industrial upgrades and economic growth in the western region.
“On the other hand, it will facilitate passenger travel and freight transport, foster the development of related industries such as tourism and commerce, boost the export orientation and competitiveness of the regional economy, and inject new momentum into regional economic growth.”
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