The Largest Airport in China

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the largest airport in China. It is also one of the world’s busiest airports. It’s one of the main international airport in China, where is located 32 kilometers northeast of the center of Beijing City, the capital of China.

In the past decade, Beijing Capital International Airport has developed rapidly and became one of the busiest airports in the world. It is now the busiest airport in China, and also the base airport of China Air. In 2004, Beijing Capital International Airport replaced Narita International Airport and became the busiest airport in Asia in terms of air traffic movements. In 2010, the passenger throughput of Beijing Capital reached 73,770,000 passengers, ranking the second in the world just behind Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Name: Beijing Capital International Airport

Owner and Operator: Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited

IATA: PEK

ICAO: ZBAA

Serving City: Beijing

Coordinates: 40°04′48″N 116°35′04″E

Beijing Capital International Airport ( Beijing Airport for short ) is one of the main international airport in China. It came into use on March 2, 1958. The early airport just had a small terminal building which is now known as South Building. The airport was just for the use of charter flight and VIPs. In 1980, a new building, tarmac, park lot and other auxiliary projects were accomplished and came into use. As the passenger throughput increased year by year, by the middle of 1990s, it is too small and could not meet the requirement of passengers. The terminal was closed then for renovation when the Terminal 2 opened.

To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Beijing Airport was expended again in 1999. A new terminal, the Terminal 3, opened on November. Later, in 2004, the renovated Terminal 1 came into use again. In Oct. 29, 2007, the 3^rd runway opened to relieve the congestion of other two runways.

In 2008, the construction of Terminal 3 was accomplished. And on January 29, 2005, the direct flight from China’s mainland to Taiwan firstly flight without stop in Hong Kong. And fresh form the Olympic Games hosting by China and the completion of the Terminal 3, Beijing Airport became the busiest airport in Asia.

There are three terminals in Beijing Airport. Terminal 1 is currently housing the domestic routes of Hainan Airlines and its subsidiaries (while its international routes; Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau flights operate from Terminal 2). Terminal 2 serves China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, SkyTeam members and other domestic and international flights. Terminal 3, the newest terminal at Beijing Airport, serves Air China, Star Alliance and Oneworld members, and some other domestic and international flights which do not operate from Terminals 1 and 2.

Terminal 1 was opened on January 1, 1980. It replaced the original small terminal building which used since 1958. Terminal 1 covers an area of 72,000 square meters. The terminal was closed from 1999 to 2004 for renovation. It has 16 gates and was the operational base for the domestic route of China Southern Airlines. And there are also other airlines such as Chongqing Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. It was originally planned to handle traffic in China mainland, except for the flights to Macau and Hong Kong.

When Terminal 3 opened, Terminal 1 was closed again for light refurbishment. The airlines of Terminal 1 were moved to Terminal 2 in May, 2008, and the terminal was reopened on June 27 the same year. It became a operational base for flights in China which operated by the HNA Group, those of Hainan Airlines, Grand China Air, Deer Air and Tianjin Airlines.

Terminal 2, with a space of 396,000 m2 (4,260,000 sq ft), opened on Nov. 1, 1999. When Terminal 1 was in renovation, Terminal 2 replace it. All airlines were transferred to this terminal. As it is much bigger than Terminal 1, and can handle 20 planes at docks directly connecting to the terminal. Before the Terminal 3 was built, all international flights operated from Terminal 2. It is now owns domestic airlines such as China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Skyteam, Air Koryo, and handles other domestic and international flights of Air China, Shanghai Airlines and Star Alliance members. The terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are linked by a public walkway and it takes about 10 to 15 min to traverse.