Beijing airport security
Beijing Capital International Airport is seeing record flights and passenger numbers during this Olympic month.
However, before anybody dances in the streets from this new record activity, BCIA needs to come to terms with the sharp decline in airport business during the first half year operation in 2008.
On July 31, ten days before the Olympics, BCIA issued a profit warning for its 2008 interim results on falling demand and rising costs.
Net profits for the six months of 2008, may fall significantly from the RMB567 million ($83.4 million) in the first half of 2007.
From August 2007 to March 2008, out of security concern for the Olympic Games, CAAC imposed limitation on flight throughput of the airport, from
1,100 flights per day to 1,000 flights, resulting in a less than expected passenger volume.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the Third Terminal drove operating costs upward.
For the second half of 2008 better performance is projected compared to the
same period last year as the limitations on flight throughput are lifted.
Source: Air Cargo News