Hubei Airport Group has signed strategic framework agreements with China’s leading three airlines to build Wuhan Tianhe International Airport into an international aviation hub. As part of the agreement, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China will have more than 60 planes based at the airport in 2010, and the number of international routes will be increased to more than ten.

China Southern said it would increase the number of planes based at Wuhan airport from 20 to 30 next year, and it also plans to launch services from Wuhan to Tokyo and Seoul.

It is estimated that the passenger throughput at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will total 13m in 2010, and that cargo and mail volume will reach 120,000 tons.