CHENGDU, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province has opened for operations, with a Sichuan Airlines flight bound for Beijing taking off on June 27.

Located some 50 km from downtown Chengdu, the Tianfu airport is the largest civil transport airport built during China's 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) and the second international airport in the provincial capital, Chengdu.

Aerial photo taken on April 12, 2021 shows the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Wang Ruilin/Xinhua)

Flight 3U8001 of Sichuan Airlines bound for Beijing Capital International Airport, the first flight after the operation of the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, takes off at the airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

With first-phase investment exceeding 75 billion yuan (about 11.7 billion U.S. dollars), the airport has two terminals totaling 710,000 square meters, roughly the size of 100 football pitches, and is capable of dealing with an annual passenger throughput of 60 million.

According to long-term plans, the airport will eventually house terminals totaling 1.4 million square meters, capable of handling 120 million passengers annually.

Aerial photo taken on May 11, 2021 shows the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on May 31, 2021 shows the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Liu Yinghua/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on May 7, 2021 shows the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Wang Ruilin/Xinhua)

Flight MU5416 of China Eastern Airlines departs for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport from the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

Aerial photo taken on May 31, 2021 shows the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo by Liu Yinghua/Xinhua)

The opening of the airport could help Chengdu become an integrated international transport hub linking China with Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.