The annual passenger throughput of the Nantong Xingdong Airport reached 2.75 million this year, the total of that of the past 20 years. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, and also the 25th year since Nantong Xingdong International Airport operated its first flight.

Nantong Xingdong International Airport then and now [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The airport is also the first civil airport in Jiangsu, and one of the important air harbors in the north of the Yangtze River Delta.

Over the past two decades, Nantong Xingdong International Airport has taken the initiative to serve regional economic and social needs and explored the collaborative development of civil aviation.

Nantong Xingdong International Airport was founded in 1990s and opened its maiden flight to Guangzhou. In the beginning, the airport developed at a slow pace, however, in May, 2010, the airport began to expand with the support of the government. In April, 2012, the airport completed its reconstruction and the runway was extended to 34 kilometers long.

Photo shows the commencement ceremony for the construction of Nantong Xingdong Airport on Oct 18, 1990. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Since 2012, the number of flights has increased from 10 a week at the start of operation to nearly 250. In July, 2016, the airport's name "Xingdong Airport" was changed to "Nantong Xingdong International Airport".

The airport now has flights to 36 cities both home and abroad. Over the past 11 months this year, the number of passengers transported from the airport has reached 150,000, a year-on-year increase of 63.4 percent.

Looking into the future, the airport will construct a new terminal in 2019 measuring up to 52,000 square meters.

Photo shows a corner of the Nantong Xingdong International Airport. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]