International Airport

If Beijing's urban infrastructure is a symphony, Beijing Capital

International Airport is its happiest movement.

The airport, China's "National  Gateway," is the country's most important aviation hub. It has been upgraded with several renovations since it first opened in 1959 and is expected to grow to handle as many as 60 million passengers per year by 2008. In 2005, the airport handled about 41 million passengers and 341,700 aircraft movements prompting some industry analysts to say that the airport already is the busiest in Asia. It is estimated that the airport will handle about 5.56 million passengers during the 29th Olympic Games and the XIII Paralympic Games in August and September 2008, but the airport expects to easily handle the added pressure.

    With trends within the international aviation industry tending toward the development of several major aviation hubs, major airports in Northeast Asia, including Beijing Capital International Airport, are vying to become the key aviation hub for Northeast Asia.

To meet market conditions and the requirements of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the airport launched a major renovation project in March 2004. When completed, the airport will be able to handle 1.8 million tons of cargo. About   500,000 airplanes will land at or take off the airport per year, with 17,000 airplanes expected to take off or land every day, about one airplane per minute on average. The airport is being configured to "function as a hub airport, to meet the requirements of the Olympic Games and to create a new image for Capital International Airport."

With a total investment of 25 billion yuan (US$3.13), the renovation projects include the building of a new No. 3 Terminal, a third runway, new facilities for aviation companies, new cargo areas, landing areas for special planes and business planes and the construction of various auxiliary facilities.

From the onset of planning for its renovations, the airport has sought to incorporate the most advanced international methods and techniques. A design theme submitted by world-famous architect Norman Foster was chosen for Terminal 3 after careful international bidding, a feasibility study (conducted by experts) and after consultations with the general public. The airport's management believes Foster's plan will serve as a basis for construction of a first-class, world-class airport.

With the T3A main building (for domestic flights) and T3B corridors (for international flights), the terminal will add 902,000 square metres of floor space and 99 new airplane "slots" or passenger gates, meeting the requirements for a top aviation hub. The terminal's decoration will feature the warm colours of red and yellow, suitable for Beijing's characteristics. On the eastern side of the airport, a third runway-3,800 metres long and 60 metres wide-will be built that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft, the world's largest airplane. A state-of-the-art single-light automatic flight management system will be used on the runway, instead of the word-of-mouth commands, to ensure maximum passenger safety and convenience.

Getting to and from the airport will be much easier. Three expressways (instead of the current one) and a light-rail line linking the airport with the Downtown Beijing area at the Dongzhimen light rail and subway station are under construction. An orientation to passenger comfort is a unique feature in these renovation projects. Outbound passengers will be able to "check in" at the Dongzhimen Light-Rail Station before boarding to go to the airport. Of the 900,000 square metres in the new airport terminal, 120,000 square metres will be used for a modern luggage sorting and claiming system. The high-speed delivery of luggage will be realized. There will be nearly 500 elevators and escalators in the terminal, adding to the passengers' convenience.

The terminal will emerge as a landmark building at the historic Beijing Capital International Airport.