Chongqing Jiangbei International airport's proposal for a third phase of expansion, which will raise capacity to 45 million passengers annually by 2020, has received approval from China's National Development and Reform Commission. The US$525 million (Yuan 3.6 billion) project is due to be completed by December 2010..

Officials from the Chongqing Airport Group estimate that the airport will be handling 16 million passengers a year by 2010, rising to 30 million by 2015 and 45 million by 2020. By 2040, the number of passengers is projcted to reach 70 million.

The third phase expansion project will include the building of a second runway and taxiway, the addition of 40 aprons, a 65,000m² expansion to the south of Terminal 2, the construction of a 9,000m² bus terminal and the addition of a 58,000m² parking area.