New kid on the block: planes line up at the new terminal at Nantong Xingdong International Airport [Photo by Xu Congjun/zgnt.net]

The new terminal at Nantong Xingdong International Airport started operating on Aug 18, according to airport officials.

Covering an area of 52,000 square meters, the terminal consists of three floors, with two above ground and one underground.

It has 11 air bridges, 30 check-in counters and 14 security check points, designed for an annual throughput of five million passengers.

There are also 11 VIP lounges, 15 nursing rooms and 15 wheelchair accessible toilets, providing convenient and comfortable trips for passengers, officials said.

An assortment of intelligent technology is also at hand, including self-service check-in machines and devices to process customs.

In addition, a viaduct has been built connecting the terminal to the main transport network in Nantong. 

“It only takes 15 minutes from the downtown area to the airport,” said Xu Jiliang, a passenger heading for Chengdu in Sichuan province.