Beijing is planning to build a second airport before the 2008 Olympic Games even though a new terminal is already planned at the existing international airport, a report said Friday.

The head of the Beijing airport company, Li Peiying, told a press conference in Hong Kong that he has set up a committee to decide on the best site for a second airport in the Chinese capital, China News Service said.

But he stressed the city's existing airport facilities would have to be used to their full capacity before construction on a second airport would begin.

A new runway and terminal at the existing airport are due to open to the public and air traffic in 2007, it added.

Li added the Air China crash in South Korea on Monday in which 122 people died had not had any repercussions for Beijing airport.

The current Beijing Capital Airport, designed according to the aviation market demand of 2005, is able to handle a traffic flow of 35 million passengers annually and to be stuffed in operation by 2005. After that, how it can deal with such a large number of passengers, as especially in the Olympic season of 2008, has roused much concern.

Departments of civil aviation have been seeking for best solutions to meet the demand of aviation development of the capital city in the coming 10 to 20 years.

( April 19, 2002 )