Beijing Capital International Airport

   

Airport terminal architecture in Beijing Airport (July 2004 image)
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Airport terminal architecture in Beijing Airport (July 2004 image)

Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 Pinyin: Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīchǎng) is an airport in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Its IATA Airport Code is PEK and its ICAO Airport Code is ZBAA. The airport is a hub for Air China.

Location

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

History

Beijing Airport was opened in the 1950s, and was the first in the PRC. The airport consisted of one small terminal building, which still stands to this day, apparently for the use of VIPs and charter flights. Around 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.

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 was named Terminal 2. On September 20, 2004, the new Terminal 1 opened (it was formerly the only terminal until 1999) exclusively for 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 for Beijing airport, and a rail link to the city centre.

Connections

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.

At least two other expressways linking to the airport are planned before 2008. One of them is a stretch of add-on expressway from the Jingcheng Expressway. Work is due to begin in 2004.

Connections by Rail/Urban Public Transit

There are currently no light rail or underground routes serving the airport; however, a light rail extension to underground line 13 is in the works and will be completed in time for the 2008 Olympics. Buses run from the airport to many parts of the city.

Airlines

Landing rights at the airport are much-coveted. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are currently seeking slots, but at the last time any were given out, they went to Federal Express.

The following airlines fly to Beijing Capital International Airport:

Terminal Buildings

Terminal 1 is open as of September 20, 2004, which handles CZ (China Southern) flights (and originally was planned to handle domestic traffic, excluding those to Hong Kong, Macao and eventually Taiwan). It was converted from the 1980s building and has been thoroughly remodelled. Terminal 1 is rather small, with approximately ten boarding gates.

Terminal 2 used to have domestic and international flights squashed into one cramped terminal. That stress is now being taken more and more by Terminal 1. Eventually, Terminal 2 may only retain the HK, Macao, Taiwan and international flights. Terminal 2 is far bigger than Terminal 1. It can easily handle twenty aeroplanes at docks connecting directly to the terminal building.

Kentucky Fried Chicken and Starbucks have recently opened outlets in the airport, slashing the airport's otherwise sky-high food prices.

Terminal 3 is currently being planned, and is expected to be built by 2007. Far grander in size and scale than the existing terminals, it will feature five floors above ground and two underground. When completed, there will be even more direct docking gates and Beijing Airport will get a new runway, in addition to its current set. Upon completion, it will take less than five minutes in Terminal 3 to reach the furthest gate.

Lounges

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

External links


de:Flughafen Peking

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This page has been accessed 161 times. This page was last modified 12:55, 23 Oct 2004. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (see Copyrights for details).