Lois Larson
Beijing Daxing International Airport, located 46km south of Beijing's political centre, Tiananmen Square, is a stunning architectural feat. The airport, which opened in 2019, is the second airport serving Beijing and is expected to handle 72 million passengers and 2 million tonnes of cargo by 2025. The airport features a passenger terminal that covers an area of 700,000 square metres and has 79 gates with air bridges that directly connect to the terminal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of gates | 79-80 |
| Number of runways | 5 (4 civilian and 1 military) |
| Number of concourses | 6 |
| Number of check-in counters | 422 |
| Number of baggage carousels | 63 |
| Number of floors | 7 (5 above ground and 2 underground) |
| Annual passenger capacity | 72 million by 2025; 100 million upon further expansion |
| Annual cargo capacity | 2 million tonnes by 2025; 4 million tonnes upon further expansion |
What You'll Learn
Beijing Daxing International Airport has around 80 boarding gates
The airport's terminal building is the biggest in the world, covering an area of 700,000 square metres (7,500,000 square feet) and sitting on 47 square kilometres (18 square miles) of land. It is designed to resemble a starfish or a phoenix, with a central hub and six curved spokes or 'tentacles'. The terminal has five floors above ground and two underground, with the international arrival and baggage claim on the first floor, domestic arrival and baggage claim on the second, domestic check-in and security on the third, and international and domestic check-in and security on the fourth. The fifth floor houses retail stores and dining options.
The airport is located 53-54 kilometres (33-34 miles) south of Beijing city centre and is expected to serve 72 million passengers by 2025, with the potential to expand to 100 million passengers and four million tonnes of cargo in the future. It is served by several airlines, including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, British Airways, and Finnair.
Beijing Daxing International Airport incorporates state-of-the-art technology, including facial recognition for secure access, radio frequency identification for baggage tracking, and self-service check-in and baggage facilities. The airport also features a ground transportation hub with connections to high-speed rail, metro, expressway, bus, and inter-airport transportation systems.
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It is one of the most expensive airports in the world
Beijing Daxing International Airport is one of the most expensive airports in the world. The airport cost $25 billion to construct and is roughly the size of 100 football fields. It is located 45-53 kilometres south of downtown Beijing and is easily accessible by public transportation. The airport has four runways, with plans for three more, and over 80 boarding gates.
The terminal building is the largest single terminal in the world, covering an area of 700,000-780,000 square metres. The terminal has five floors above ground and two underground, with various outdoor terraces. The airport is designed to handle 72 million passengers a year and features state-of-the-art technology, including 5G access and facial recognition technology for check-ins.
The unique star-shaped design of the airport, reminiscent of a starfish or a hand, was created by renowned Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid. The vast airport showcases China's prowess in engineering and construction and reflects the country's unique culture.
The airport is well-equipped with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, banks, hotels, parking lots, restaurants, lounges, and silent office spaces. It also offers services such as baggage packing, mailing, and currency exchange. Beijing Daxing International Airport is a hub for SkyTeam alliance airlines, with some Oneworld members also operating from the airport.
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It is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects
Beijing Daxing International Airport, nicknamed "the starfish", is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, in collaboration with French planners ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) and partners, and executed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). The airport is located in the Daxing district, 46km south of Beijing city centre.
The airport's terminal building is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, with the Joint Design Team (JDT) led by the Beijing New Airport Headquarters (BNAH). The JDT brought together ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) and Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) to collaborate on the design, with ZHA functioning as the Terminal Design Architect and ADPI as the Terminal Planning Architect.
The terminal's design is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, with interconnected spaces organised around a central courtyard. The design guides passengers seamlessly through departure, arrival, or transfer zones towards the grand courtyard at its centre, which serves as a multi-layered meeting space. The terminal includes a ground transportation centre offering direct connections to Beijing, the national high-speed rail network, and local train services.
The building features a vaulted roof with eight flowing forms that reach the ground, supporting the structure and allowing natural light in. The compact radial configuration of the terminal maximises the number of aircraft that can be parked directly at the terminal, providing convenience for passengers and flexibility in operations.
The airport is designed to accommodate 45 million passengers per year initially, with plans to expand to serve 72 million travellers by 2025 and up to 100 million passengers annually in the future.
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It is the first airport to have double-deck arrival and departure platforms
Beijing Daxing International Airport is the first airport in the world to have double-deck arrival and departure platforms. The airport, located 46km south of Beijing's political centre, Tiananmen Square, is the second airport serving Beijing and is expected to handle 72 million passengers and 2 million tonnes of cargo by 2025.
The airport's unique design is the brainchild of the late architect Zaha Hadid, known for her futuristic style, and is often referred to as the "Starfish of Beijing" due to its distinctive shape. The terminal building covers a 1,000,000m² area and has a large central space and 5 "tentacles", resembling a giant "octopus". The design concept aims to separate arrivals from departures, with two levels serving arriving flights and another two handling departures. This allows for multiple check-in zones, making procedures faster and more convenient.
The double-deck platforms are just one of the airport's many innovative features. The airport also boasts the latest technology, including facial recognition for secure access and self-check-in, and radio frequency identification devices for baggage tracking. The airport is also eco-friendly, with energy-saving designs and a solar farm that generates 10MW of power.
The construction of Beijing Daxing International Airport began in December 2014 and was completed in September 2019, with an investment of approximately $17 billion. The airport is a hub for SkyTeam alliance airlines and some Oneworld members, with China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines among the operators. The airport is designed to handle a high volume of passengers efficiently and is well-equipped with various facilities and services, including banks, hotels, parking lots, restaurants, lounges, and more.
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It is expected to become the busiest airport in the world by 2040
Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to become the busiest airport in the world by 2040. The airport, which opened in 2019, is located 50 kilometres south of Beijing's city centre and covers 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres). It cost CN¥120bn (approximately US$17bn) to construct, with other peripheral projects bringing the total cost to CN¥450bn (US$63bn).
The airport is designed to be a hub for rapid gate access, with a unique ""starfish" shape that allows passengers to reach their departure gates as quickly as possible. It has four civilian runways, one military runway, and over 80 boarding gates. The terminal building has five floors above ground and two underground, covering 700,000 square metres (7,500,000 square feet). It is the world's largest single-building airport terminal.
By 2025, the airport is projected to handle 72 million passengers annually, and by 2040, this number is expected to reach 100 million. This would surpass Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which held the number one spot for over 20 consecutive years until 2020.
The construction of Beijing Daxing International Airport is a response to the growing demand for air travel in China. Beijing Capital International Airport, the city's other airport, was reaching its saturation level, with over 205,000 passengers passing through its terminals daily. With the addition of Daxing Airport, Beijing joins other global cities like New York City, London, Paris, and Tokyo, which have multiple intercontinental stopover airports.
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Frequently asked questions
Beijing Daxing Airport has 79 or 80 gates, depending on the source.
Yes, Beijing Daxing Airport is the biggest single-terminal airport in the world. It covers an area of 1 million square metres, or 97 soccer fields.
Despite the huge size of the airport, it takes less than 8 minutes to walk from the central courtyard to any gate.
