Beijing Capital International Airport

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Beijing Capital International Airport
北京首都国际机场
Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīcháng
IATA: PEK - ICAO: ZBAA
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Civil Aviation Administration of China
Serves Beijing
Elevation AMSL 116 ft (35 m)
Coordinates 40°04′48″N, 116°35′04″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18R/36L 10,499 3,200 Asphalt
18L/36R 12,468 3,800 Asphalt

Beijing Capital International Airport (Simplified Chinese: 北京首都国际机场; Traditional Chinese: 北京首都國際機場; pinyin: Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīcháng) (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA) is the main international airport that serves the capital city of Beijing, People's Republic of China. The IATA Airport Code is PEK, reflecting Beijing's former Romanization Peking. The airport is the main hub of Air China and China Xinhua Airlines. The airport expansion is largely funded by a 500-million-euro (USD 625 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The loan is the largest ever granted by the EIB in Asia and the agreement was signed during the eighth China-EU Summit held in September 2005.

Beijing Capital is today the busiest airport in the People's Republic of China, having registered double-digit growth annually since the SARS crisis of 2003. In 2004, it became the busiest airport in Asia by aircraft movements, overtaking Tokyo International Airport (Haneda). In terms of passengers, Beijing was the second-busiest airport in Asia and fourteenth-busiest worldwide in 2005. In the period from January to September 2005, the airport handled a total of 33,143,003 passengers, overtaking Hong Kong to become the busiest airport in the People's Republic of China for the first time since 1997.

Contents

[edit] Location

Beijing Capital International Airport is located around 20 km to the northeast of Beijing city center. Although many consider it to lie in Shunyi District, it, in fact, is an exclave of Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Beijing Capital International Airport, showing the new (taller) and old (lowered) air traffic control towers, Terminal 1 (front) and Terminal 2 (the blue structure behind Terminal 1)
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Beijing Capital International Airport, showing the new (taller) and old (lowered) air traffic control towers, Terminal 1 (front) and Terminal 2 (the blue structure behind Terminal 1)

[edit] History

Beijing Airport was opened on March 2, 1958, and was the first in the People's Republic of China. The airport consisted of one small terminal building, which still stands to this day, apparently for the use of VIPs and charter flights. On January 1, 1980, a newer, larger building -- green in colour -- opened, with docks for 10–12 airplanes. The terminal was larger than the 1950s one, but by the mid 1990s it was overwhelmed with people and was tested well over the limit. The terminal was then closed for renovation after the opening of Terminal 2.

In late 1999, to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, the airport was expanded again, reaching its current state in this expansion. This new terminal opened on November 1, and was named Terminal 2. September 20, 2004, saw the opening of a new Terminal 1 for a few airlines, including China Southern Airlines domestic and international flights from Beijing. Other airlines' domestic and international flights still operate in Terminal 2.

Another, even more ambitious expansion, is in the works, due for completion in time for the 2008 Olympics. This includes a 3rd runway and another terminal for Beijing airport, and a rail link to the city centre.

On January 29, 2005, direct flights between Mainland China and Taiwan via the areas over Hong Kong and Macao took place after 56 years, mainly to allow families and relatives on the two sides of the strait to get together for Chinese New Year. Flying to Taiwan were planes from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. This became known as a part of the Three Links.

On June 15, 2005, Continental Airlines began nonstop flights between Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey to Beijing.

Recently, American Airlines has applied for nonstop flights between Beijing and Dallas/Fort Worth (Via Chicago O'Hare International Airport on westbound flights only). This route is currently pending government approval.

Also, United Airlines have recently applied to fly non-stop between Beijing and Washington Dulles International Airport in association with the Capital-to-Capital Coalition. This route is currently pending government approval. If approved, flights will commence March 2007.

[edit] Connections

The Airport Expressway Toll Gate at Xiaotianzhu (August 2004 image).
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The Airport Expressway Toll Gate at Xiaotianzhu (August 2004 image).

[edit] Connections by Road

The airport remote when it was first built. Then, a solitary, narrow road served it from the area now known as Sanyuanqiao.

When China started opening up in the 1980s, the airport was full of activity and the tiny, narrow road that used to serve it was tested to the limit. As a result, in the early 1990s, a nearly 20 km stretch of toll expressway -- the Airport Expressway -- connecting downtown Beijing from the Northeastern 3rd Ring Road at Sanyuanqiao directly to the airport -- was opened.

By 2008, four expressways will link to the airport:

All of these expressways, except for the Airport Expressway are currently under construction as of early 2005.

[edit] Connections by Rail/Urban Public Transit

There are currently no light rail or underground routes serving the airport; however, the Airport Extension to the Beijing subway will begin construction in June 2005 and will be completed in time for the 2008 Olympics. Buses run from the airport to many parts of the city.

[edit] Airlines and Terminals

Landing rights at the airport are much-coveted. After slots were given to Federal Express, Continental Airlines began non-stop flights between Newark and Beijing on June 15, 2005. The airport currently has two terminals. Terminal 1 serves mainly for China Southern Airlines and a few other airlines, Terminal 2 serves all remaining Chinese airlines and all international flights (including Hong Kong and Macau). A third terminal is currently under construction and it is expected to be built by 2007.

[edit] Terminal 1

Terminal 1, which was green in colour, first opened on January 1, 1980. After the opening of Terminal 2, Terminal 1 was then closed and went through renovation. Terminal 1 then reopened on September 20, 2004, replacing the original 1980s terminal building. This was the airport's only terminal until 1999. It is now used mostly for China Southern Airlines' domestic and select international flights to and from Beijing.

  • China Southern Airlines (Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Mudanjiang, Nanning, Pyongyang, Sanya, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Urumqi, Wuhan, Xi'an, Xining, Yanji, Yiwu, Zhangjinag, Zhenzhou, Zhuhai)
  • Xiamen Airlines (Fuzhou, Jinjiang, Wuyishan, Xiamen)

[edit] Terminal 2

Terminal 2 opened on November 1, 1999, a month following the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This terminal was used to replace Terminal 1 while undergoing renovation, cramping all airlines into this terminal. This terminal now contains all other airlines' domestic and international flights. It may eventually contain only Hong Kong, Macau, and international flights.

  • Aeroflot (Moscow-Sheremetyevo)
  • Aerosvit Airlines (Kiev-Boryspil)
  • Air Algérie (Algiers [Starts in 2007])[1]
  • Air Astana (Almaty)
  • Air Canada (Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver)
  • Air China (Aksu, Altay, Ankang, Anqing, Anshan, Bangda, Bangkok, Baoshan, Baotou, Beihai, Bengdu, Busan, Changchun, Changde, Changdu, Changsha, Changzhi, Changzhou, Chaoyang, Chengdu, Chifeng, Chita, Chongqing, Copenhagen, Dachuan, Daegu, Dali, Dalian, Dandong, Datong, Delhi, Dubai, Dunhuang, Enshi, Frankfurt, Fukuoka, Fuyang, Fuyun, Fuzhou, Ganzhou, Golmud, Guanghan, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Hailar, Hanzhong, Hangzhou, Harbin, Heihe, Hengyang, Hiroshima, Hong Kong, Hohhot, Huangshan, Huangyan, Jakarta, Jiamusi, Ji'an, Jiayuguan, Jilin, Jingdezhen, Jinghong, Jinjiang, Jinzhou, Jiujiang, Jiuquan, Jiuzhaigou, Karachi, Karamay, Kathmandu, Kashi, Korla, Kuala Lumpur, Kumul, Kunming, Kuqa, Kuwait, Lanzhou, Lianyun'gang, Lijiang, Linyi, Liuzhou, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Luoyang, Luzhou, Madrid, Mangshi, Meixian, Melbourne, Mianyang, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Mudanjiang, Munich, Nagoya-Centrair, Nanchang, Nanchong, Nanjing, Nanning, Nantong, Nanyang, New York-JFK, Ningbo, Osaka-Kansai, Panzhihua, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Phuket, Quanxhou, Qiemo, Qingdao, Qingyang, Qinhuangdao, Qiqihar, Quzhou, Rome-Fiumicino, San Francisco, Sanya, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Sendai, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Shanghai-Pudong, Shantou, Shashi, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Simao, Singapore, Stockholm-Arlanda, Suzhou, Swatow, Sydney, Tacheng, Taiyuan, Tokyo-Narita, Tongliao, Tongren, Ulan Baator, Ulanhot, Urumqi, Vancouver, Wanxian, Weifang, Weihai, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Wuyishan, Wuzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Xiangfan, Xichang, Xilinhot, Xining, Xuzhou, Yan'an, Yangon, Yanji, Yantai, Yibin, Yinchuan, Yining, Yiwu, Yulin, Yuncheng, Zhangjiajie, Zhoatong, Zhoushan, Zhengzhou, Zhongdian, Zhuhai)
Airport terminal architecture in Beijing Airport's Terminal 2 (April 2006 image)
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Airport terminal architecture in Beijing Airport's Terminal 2 (April 2006 image)

[edit] Terminal 3

Currently under construction, due for completion by 2007.

[edit] Cargo airlines

[edit] Terminal Buildings

Terminal 1 opened September 20, 2004 and handles China Southern (CZ) flights, and originally was planned to handle domestic traffic, excluding those to Hong Kong and Macau. It was converted from the 1980s structure and has been thoroughly remodelled. Terminal 1 is relatively small, with approximately ten boarding gates.

Terminal 2 formerly served domestic and international flights in one relatively compressed terminal. That stress is now being taken more and more by Terminal 1. Terminal 2 is far bigger than Terminal 1. It can easily handle twenty airplanes at docks connecting directly to the terminal building.

There is a passage linking the two terminals together; this is accessible at the public level (no passports needed).

Kentucky Fried Chicken and Starbucks have recently opened outlets in the airport, slashing the airport's otherwise sky-high food prices. These are in both Terminals 1 and 2.

Terminal 3 is currently under construction. It has been designed by the British-based architectural firm Foster and Partners, and is expected to be completed by 2007. Far grander in size and scale than the existing terminals (would become arguably the largest airport terminal building complex built in a single phase with 900,000 sq. meters in total floor area), it will feature a main passenger terminal(Terminal 3A), two satellite concourses(Terminal 3B and Terminal 3C) and five floors above ground and two underground. When completed, it will provide 66 more aerobridges or jetways--further complemented with remote parking bays which will bring the grand total of gates to 120 for the terminal alone. An additional runway is also projected to be constructed at that time. Upon completion, it is reported that passengers will be able to travel from the entrance of Terminal 3 to the farthest gate in less than 5 minutes.

[edit] Lounges

Domestic and international lounges are available inside the passport-restricted zones.

[edit] Customs

Customs at Beijing will confiscate alcohol of any type that is carried in Hand Luggage even though there are no signs warning that this may be the case (Oct 2005)

[edit] External links

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