On September 25, 2019, the new airport in Beijing was inaugurated, an ultra-modern starfish-shaped construction.
Daxing International Airport, located 46 km from the capital’s center, is expected to operate at full capacity in 2025, with 72 million passengers per year, which would mean a world record for a single terminal, according to its designers.
The new infrastructure is intended to reduce pressure on the current Beijing International Airport, whose three terminals are located northeast of the metropolis of 21 million inhabitants.
The old airport, second in the world rankings after Atlanta Airport in the USA, has already reached saturation, with just over 100 million passengers annually.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in the mid-2020s, China will overtake the USA to become the world’s leading aviation market. Under these conditions, the capital expects to receive 170 million passengers in 2025, divided between its two airports.
With an area of 700,000 sqm, the new building becomes the largest airport terminal in the world.
Unlike classic airports, the new building is entirely elevated, with two levels for departures and as many for arrivals. A metro and train station is installed directly under the terminal.
An express line is expected to allow passengers to reach the city center in about 20 minutes.
The project cost 120 billion yuan (15 billion EUR). The amount reaches 400 billion yuan (50 billion EUR) if rail and road connections are also taken into account.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Beijing Daxing International Airport located?
The airport is situated 46 km from the center of Beijing.
What is the passenger capacity of the Daxing terminal?
It is designed to handle 72 million passengers annually by 2025, making it the world’s largest single terminal.
What was the total investment for the Beijing Daxing project?
The total cost, including rail and road infrastructure, reached approximately 400 billion yuan (50 billion EUR).