Airport expo launched in Guangzhou

International cooperation and technological innovation were highlighted during an expo and conference launched in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on Monday.

Representatives from over 170 airports in 70-plus countries and regions, and those of more than 190 civil aviation-related enterprises, are attending the 2025 International Airport Expo and the 10th China Airport Service Conference, taking place from Monday to Thursday.

Airports Council International, a trade association representing some of the world's largest airports, will hold the Airport Experience Summit for the first time in China during the events. The China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission will hold an airport working group meeting.

The latest achievements are being presented at the exhibition area featuring airport service innovative products, civil aviation professional equipment, civil aviation engineering technology, aviation tourism culture and sports integration, and airport area economy, said Qi Yaoming, deputy general manager of the Guangzhou airport.

They include a digital twin airport platform, smart airport 3D visualization solutions, AI-powered flight scheduling system, smart luggage tracing technology and smart warehousing equipment.

The events serve as a platform for exchanges, releases and demonstrations, and signify the resolve of China's civil aviation sector to deepen international cooperation and advance high-quality development, said Wang Ruiping, chairwoman of the China Civil Airports Association.

The association is actively advancing the establishment of group standards and will promote mature and outstanding standards globally, including those regarding airport service quality, said Sun Xiaoli, executive deputy secretary-general of the CCAA.

China's air transport sector continued to recover in the first half and came close to levels seen in 2019, before COVID-19, with all consumption boosting measures implemented. Major increases are expected in the sector this year, Sun said.

The aviation sector remains resilient with demand for air travel expanding, with the Asia-Pacific leading the way. Today, eight of the world's 20 busiest airports are in the region, including three from China, said Justin Erbacci, director general of Airports Council International.

To help meet future demand, airports must continue to combine smarter operations with expanded infrastructure, Erbacci said.

Girum Abebe Hayleselase, country director, China, of Ethiopian Airlines, said: "We have great expectations for this expo, particularly due to its comprehensive nature. It brings together major airports, airlines, construction companies, equipment suppliers and service providers, creating an integrated industry ecosystem.

"With plans underway to build a new airport in Ethiopia, we aim to learn from China's expertise in airport design, construction, operation and management. We also look forward to identifying more partners to collaborate on what will become one of Africa's largest and most modern aviation facilities."