Wuzhou (Changzhou), CN 🇨🇳 Closed Airport
CN-0438
-
89 ft
CN-45
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 23.456699° N, 111.248001° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: WUZ ZGWZ
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Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
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18/36 |
5906 ft | - ft | CON | Active |
Type | Description | Frequency |
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January 23, 2019. The airport officially ceased all operations on this date, coinciding with the opening of its replacement. The final commercial flight from Changzhoudao Airport departed on the evening of January 22, 2019.
The airport was permanently closed and replaced by the new, modern Wuzhou Xijiang Airport (IATA: WUZ, ICAO: ZGWZ). The primary reasons for the replacement were the significant physical and operational limitations of the Changzhoudao site:
1. **Geographic Constraints:** Located on Changzhou Island in the middle of the Xijiang River, the airport had no room for expansion.
2. **Short Runway:** Its runway was only 1,800 meters long, which restricted operations to smaller regional aircraft (like the Xian MA60 and Embraer E190) and prevented larger, more common jets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 from landing.
3. **Economic Growth:** The existing facilities were outdated and could not handle the increasing passenger and cargo demand driven by Wuzhou's economic development.
4. **Modernization:** The new airport was built to meet modern aviation standards with a longer runway (2,600 meters), a larger terminal, and advanced navigation systems, allowing for more destinations and greater capacity.
The former airport site is no longer used for aviation. Following its closure, the land was slated for complete redevelopment. The airport infrastructure, including the runway, taxiways, and terminal building, has been or is in the process of being demolished. The site is being repurposed and integrated into the 'Wuzhou Circular Economy Industrial Park' for new urban and industrial development projects. The valuable riverfront land is being transformed for non-aviation purposes.
Opened in July 1995, Wuzhou Changzhoudao Airport served as the sole air portal for the city of Wuzhou for over 23 years. It was classified as a 4C domestic airport and was a vital piece of infrastructure that significantly boosted the region's connectivity, economy, and tourism. During its operational years, it handled domestic flights connecting Wuzhou to key Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, and Nanning. Airlines like China Southern Airlines and Tianjin Airlines were regular operators. The airport was instrumental in ending Wuzhou's relative isolation and integrating it more closely with the national transportation network.
There are zero prospects for reopening Wuzhou Changzhoudao Airport for commercial flights. Its closure was a permanent and strategic decision to upgrade the city's aviation capabilities. Its functions have been entirely and more effectively superseded by the new Wuzhou Xijiang Airport, and the land is being actively redeveloped for other uses.
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