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Beijing Capital International Airport

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Beijing Capital International Airport
NameBeijing Capital International Airport
IATAPEK
ICAOZBAA
OwnerBeijing Capital International Airport Company Limited
OperatorBeijing Capital International Airport Company Limited
City-servedBeijing
LocationChaoyang District and Shunyi District, Beijing
Opened02 March 1958
Hub* Air China * Hainan Airlines * China Southern Airlines * China Eastern Airlines
Metric-elev35
Elevation-m35
Elevation-f115
Coordinates40, 04, 48, N...
Websitehttp://www.bcia.com.cn

Beijing Capital International Airport is the primary international airport serving Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China. Located northeast of the city center in Chaoyang and Shunyi Districts, it is a major aviation hub for East Asia and a primary gateway for international travel to China. The facility is owned and operated by the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, a state-controlled enterprise, and serves as the main hub for the nation's flag carrier, Air China, as well as for Hainan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines.

History

The airport opened on March 2, 1958, replacing the older Nanyuan Airport as the city's main civilian airfield, with its initial construction supported by technical aid from the Soviet Union. Its first major expansion occurred in 1980, ahead of China's economic reforms, to accommodate growing international traffic, including new services from carriers like Pan American World Airways. A pivotal moment came with the construction of Terminal 2 for the 2008 Summer Olympics, a project that also included the addition of a third runway. The most transformative development was the opening of the massive Terminal 3 in 2008, designed by renowned architects Foster and Partners and engineered by Arup, which significantly increased the airport's capacity and cemented its status as a global aviation leader.

Terminals

The airport operates three passenger terminals. Terminal 1, now used primarily by Hainan Airlines and its partners, was the original facility and was renovated in the 1990s. Terminal 2, opened in 1999 and expanded in 2008, serves China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and SkyTeam alliance members, handling both domestic and international flights. The colossal Terminal 3, one of the world's largest airport buildings, is divided into sections T3-C, T3-D, and T3-E, and is used exclusively by Air China, its Star Alliance partners, and other select international carriers like British Airways and Qantas; it features an automated people mover system connecting its concourses.

Airlines and destinations

As a premier global hub, the airport hosts a vast network of domestic and international carriers. The dominant carrier is Air China, which operates an extensive route network from its base here to destinations across Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa. Other major Chinese operators include China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines. Key international airlines offering services include Lufthansa, Air France, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, connecting Beijing to major global cities like London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and New York City.

Operations and statistics

The airport is one of the busiest in the world by passenger traffic and aircraft movements. It features three parallel runways and two major control towers. Prior to the opening of Beijing Daxing International Airport in 2019, it handled over 100 million passengers annually, consistently ranking second globally behind Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It serves as a critical cargo hub for Air China Cargo and integrators like FedEx Express, facilitating trade across Eurasia. The facility is renowned for its operational scale, managing a complex mix of wide-body aircraft from carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways alongside dense domestic shuttle services.

Ground transportation

The airport is well-integrated into Beijing's transportation network. The Beijing Capital Airport Express, a dedicated airport rail link, connects Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 to the city's Beijing Subway system at stations like Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen. Numerous airport bus lines provide direct services to key locations across the city, including Wangfujing and Beijing Railway Station. Taxi services are readily available, and major car rental companies such as Hertz and AVIS operate on-site. The airport's proximity to the Beijing–Harbin Expressway and Jingcheng Expressway also facilitates road access.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has maintained a strong safety record given its immense traffic volume. One notable accident occurred on July 10, 2013, when a Boeing 777 operated by Asiana Airlines (Flight 214) crashed on final approach to San Francisco International Airport; the flight had originated here. A significant incident on the ground happened in 2007 when a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter operated by Lufthansa Cargo veered off a taxiway, causing substantial damage to the aircraft but no fatalities. These events are exceptions within the context of the airport's overall safe operations managed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Category:Airports in China Category:Buildings and structures in Beijing Category:1958 establishments in China