Beijing Capital International Airport

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Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title |- !align="center" bgcolor="#0099FF" colspan="4"|Summary |- |- ! bgcolor="lightgrey"|IATA |PEK ! bgcolor="lightgrey"|ICAO |ZBAA |- !colspan="2" align="left" valign="top"|Airport type |colspan="2" valign="top"|public |- !colspan="2" align="left" valign="top"|Operator |colspan="2" valign="top"|Civil Aviation Administration of China |- !colspan="2" align="left" valign="top"|Serves |colspan="2" valign="top"|Beijing, China |- !colspan="2" align="left" valign="top"|Elevation MSL |colspan="2" valign="top"|114 ft (35 m) |- !colspan="2" align="left" valign="top"|Coordinates |colspan="2" valign="top"|Template:Coor dms Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame Beijing Capital International Airport (Template:Zh-sp) Template:Airport codes 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 2002. In 2004, it became the busiest airport in Asia by aircraft movements, overtaking Tokyo International Airport (Haneda). In terms of passengers, Beijing was the fourth-busiest airport in Asia (after Tokyo-Haneda, Bangkok, and Hong Kong), and #20 worldwide. In the period of January to September 2005, however, the airport accumulated a total of 30,143,003 passengers handled, overtaking Hong Kong to become the busiest airport in the People's Republic of China for the first time since 1997.

Contents

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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. Image:Bcia overview.JPG

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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 after the opening of Terminal 2 for renovation. It reopened on September 20, 2004 and it is used for a few airlines, including China Southern Airlines.

In late 1999, to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, the airport was expanded again. (This is the Beijing airport of today.) This new terminal opened on November 1, and was named Terminal 2. On September 20, 2004, the new Terminal 1 opened (it was formerly the only terminal until 1999) 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.

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Connections

Image:AirportExpresswayBeijingWikipediaGFDL.jpg

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Connections by Road

The airport used to be remote when it was first created in the early days. 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.

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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.

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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 Hong and Macau). A third terminal is currently under construction and it is expected to be built by 2007.

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Terminal 1

Terminal 1, which was green in color, 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 exclusively for China Southern Airlines' domestic and international flights out of, and into, Beijing.

  • China Southern Airlines (Changchun, Changsha, Dalian, Guangzhou, Guilin, Guiyang, Haikou, Harbin, Mudanjiang, Nanning, Sanya, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Urumqi, Wuhan, Xi'an, Xining, Yanji, Yiwu, Zhangjinag, Zhenzhou, Zhuhai)
  • Xiamen Airlines (Fuzhou, Jinjiang, Wuyishan, Xiamen)
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Terminal 2

Image:Structural shot of Beijing Airport.jpg

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.

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Terminal 3

Currently under construction, due for completion by 2007.

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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, Macao and eventually Taiwan. 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. Eventually, Terminal 2 may only retain the HK, Macau, Taiwan and international flights. 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, and is expected to be completed by 2007. Far grander in size and scale than the existing terminals (would become arguably the largest single airport terminal building with 900,000 sq. meters in total floor area), it will feature 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.

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Lounges

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

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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)

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External links

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es:Aeropuerto Internacional de Pekín fr:Aéroport international de Pékin ja:北京首都国際空港 ro:Aeroportul Internaţional Beijing zh:北京首都国际机场

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