Yichang is beautiful with SKYTRAX and the brand is wonderful in Yichang.

　　On the afternoon of June 26th, at the International Asia-Pacific Convention Center Sanya, Yichang Sanxia Airport won the title of SKYTRAX four-star airport. 15 SKYTRAX four-star airports including Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Zurich Airport, Yichang Sanxia Airport ranks among the world\'s advanced airports.

　　Receiving the certificate of “SKYTRAX Four-star Airport” from SKYTRAX President Edward, Wang Hong, Chairman of Yichang Sanxia Airport, said winning the SKYTRAX four-star title is not just winning the honor for Yichang Sanxia Airport, but also adds to it’s the construction of an international Yichang City.

　　"Becoming a global four-star airport was originally an illusory goal."

　　Open in December 1996, Yichang Sanxia Airport is an important supporting project of the Three Gorges Project. In 2004, Hainai Airlines Group (HNA Group) restructured the Yichang Sanxia Airport.

　　Led by HNA Group and Yichang Municipal Party Committee and Government, Yichang Sanxia Airport gradually presents its unique charm and vitality. Since 2006, Yichang Sanxia Airport in accordance with HNA Group’s requirement of "Fine, Standard, Digital", has been committed to improving the safety management system and operational quality.

　　In 2007, Yichang comprehensive economic strength has ranked first among the same-level cities in Hubei Province. China promotes West Development and the rise of the central region. The Provincial Party Committee and Government strongly supported the construction of Yichang to be sub-central city, providing policy opportunity to accelerate the development of Yichang. It also raises a question: how to accelerate the development of Yichang to meet the requirements of regional core airport?

　　HNA Group set a goal for Yichang Sanxia Airport: to obtain the Oscar in global civil aviation services--SKYTRAX.

　　As the world\'s most credible, authoritative and professional well-known aviation service, SKYTRAX established in 1989 and headquartered in London. SKYTRAX assesses the services quality of more than 450 airlines, and the star rating of SKYTRAX is equivalent to the star rating in worldwide hotel industry. As of 2011, only 16 airports around the world get SKYTRAX four-star certification, of which only 3 airports: Beijing International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Haikou Meilan International Airport was awarded SKYTRAX four-star  in mainland China.

　　In 2011, when Yichang Sanxia Airport staff were informed that Yichang Sanxia Airport would apply for SKYTRAX four-star airport, message, almost everyone was querying the message. Wang Hong, Chairman of Yichang Sanxia Airport, said: "At that time, Yichang Sanxia Airport\'s annual passenger throughput is less than one million person-time, but the passenger throughput of those four-star airports is more than ten million person-time. Yichang Sanxia Airport is also inferior to those international airports in term of status and location."

　　How did Yichang Sanxia Airport stand out in many competitors?

　　"Three Gorges are the unique characteristic of Yichang Sanxia Airport."

　　"The star rating system of SKYTRAX has been operating for more than ten years. The system is divided into five levels from \'one-star\' to \'five-star\', and every standard has a core, that is, \'bring wonderful experience to passengers\'." Luo Chunping, the General Manager of Yichang Sanxia Airport, said SKYTRAX, as an international organization, has a certain influence over international tourists. Yichang Sanxia Airport considers SKYTRAX four-star not only as a simple brand, but also as a platform for Yichang communicating with outside.

　　Combining SKYTRAX and tourism to create a characteristic airport can add the theme of tourism and make Yichang world-famous.

　　During the construction, Yichang Sanxia Airport has a distinctive feature with rich historical culture: Tujia silk, the Three Gorges rare stone, culture of Three Kingdoms. Yichang Sanxia Airport highlights Yichang historical and cultural characteristics in various parts.

　　In order to fully demonstrate the characteristics of Yichang tourism, the airport pay a huge price to replace the most eye-catching advertisements with scenery photos of Qingjiang gallery and Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges landscapes, magnificent Three Gorges Dam and Tujia beauty attract visitors; and the international piano brand from Yichang-Yangtze piano also occupy a place in the waiting hall of Yichang Sanxia Airport.

　　When checking the construction, SKYTRAX President Mr. Edward praised that Yichang Sanxia Airport has a distinctive feature with rich historical culture.

　　"Yichang Sanxia Airport pattern could become global medium and small airports service standards."

　　From 2012-2014, learning from the experience of outstanding international airports, Yichang Sanxia Airport invested more than 34 million RMB to improve 18 major projects and more than 240 small projects, some of which even reach the five-star standard.

　　Wang Hong said in June 2012, more than 20 airports including Yichang Sanxia Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport participate SKYTRAX star ratings. In the two years, Yichang Sanxia Airport introduced SKYTRAX accreditation mechanism, adopted SOP standard operating procedures for airport operations, operations support departments, assessed professional and vocational skills, and carried out special training of service, English, etc..

　　In the service project, Yichang Sanxia Airport provides dozens of service points from airport trolley, luggage service, check-in, going aboard or waiting to leaving the airport. The airport staff provide comfortable service for tourists from the beginning: if you are thirsty and hungry, the airport staff will offer delicious food; if you are tired and sleepy, the airport staff will prepare place for you to rest.

　　Focusing on passengers’ demand and learning from the experience of outstanding international airports, Yichang Sanxia Airport has completed 271 improvements including airport website, flight display, signal, ATM, toilets, first class lounge, culture display wall, children entertainment district, the terminal building environment, relief wall, parking lot, business transformation, of which 209 are hardware modification, 62 are software upgrade projects.

　　SKYTRAX report says that Yichang Sanxia Airport facilities and staff service have reached four-star standards, and maternal and child lounge, parking lot are beyond international standards.

　　In November 2013, after investigating Yichang Sanxia Airport, SKYTRAX President Edward considered that Yichang Sanxia Airport fully reflects the local culture, and the airport is a "passenger-friendly" airport. He said: "\'fast and efficient, refined and friendly\' is the SKYTRAX four-star mode of Yichang Sanxia Airport, and the mode can be service standards for global medium and small regional airports."

　　On April 23, 2014, Yichang Sanxia Airport accepted a formal final checking by SKYTRAX. On April 29, SKYTRAX officially release: Yichang Sanxia Airport passed a four-star checking, which means Yichang Sanxia Airport becomes the world\'s only four-star airport with less than 5 million passenger throughput.

　　Wang Hong said that Yichang Sanxia Airport becoming SIYTRAX four-star airport adds a special card for Yichang, and Yichang is more and more world-famous. Yichang Sanxia Airport will further enhance the wonderful services and the airport will be a culture and tourism window of Yichang. (Reporter: Yan Xiaodong, Correspondents: Yu Junhua and Guo Zutong)