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Beijing, the capital of China, is served by two airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Beijing Capital International Airport is the world's busiest airport and the largest Chinese airport. It is located 32km (20 miles) northeast of the city centre and has three terminals. Beijing Daxing International Airport, meanwhile, is the largest single-structure airport in the world. It is located 46km (29 miles) south of Tiananmen Square and has one terminal.
Beijing Airports
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Airports | 2 |
| Names of Airports | Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport |
| IATA Codes | PEK, PKX |
| ICAO Codes | ZBAA, ZBAD |
| Airport Operator | Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited |
| Year of Opening | 1958, 2019 |
| Distance from Downtown Beijing | 32 km, 46 km |
| Number of Terminals | 3, 1 |
| Terminal Floor Area | 336,000 m2, 11,000,000 sq ft |
| Number of Runways | 3, 5 |
| Transportation Facilities | High-speed express train, Airport Express Train, shuttle buses, taxi, subway, rail |
| Additional Amenities | Yoga room, luggage storage, 144-hour visa program, English-speaking assistance |
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What You'll Learn
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport was opened on 1 March 1958. The airport then consisted of one small terminal building, which still stands today, for the use of VIPs and charter flights, along with a single 2,500-metre runway on its eastern side, which was extended to 3,200 metres in 1966 and 3,800 metres in 1984. Terminal 1 was opened on 1 January 1980 and renovated in 2008, but it has been closed since 3 May 2020. Terminal 2 opened on 1 November 1999, with a floor area of 336,000 square metres. Terminal 3, the newest terminal, was completed in February 2008, in time for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. It is the second-largest passenger terminal in the world. The significant expansion included a rail link to the city centre.
The airport provides a free inter-terminal shuttle bus between Terminals 2 and 3. Terminal 2 serves Hainan Airlines and SkyTeam with the exception of China Airlines, Oneworld member SriLankan Airlines, and other domestic and international flights. Terminal 3 serves Air China, Star Alliance, Oneworld members with the exception of SriLankan Airlines, plus SkyTeam member China Airlines, and some other domestic and international flights that do not operate from Terminals 2. Terminal 3 has a 300,000-square-metre transportation hub with a 7,000-car garage. The transportation centre has designated traffic lanes for airport buses, taxis, and private vehicles. Terminal 3 also has 243 elevators, escalators or moving walkways, and a US$240 million luggage-transfer system.
Beijing Capital Airlines has its headquarters in the Capital Airlines Building at the airport. The airport is the busiest in Asia and the second busiest in the world in terms of passenger traffic, with more than 100 million passengers in 2018 and an annual capacity of 1.01 billion passengers by the end of 2019. The airport handled 252 domestic and international flight routes per day. Queues can be chaotic, and the terminals are very large, so it is recommended that travellers allow plenty of time to navigate the airport.
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Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
PKX was designed by the famed architect Zaha Hadid and opened in 2019, becoming the largest single-structure airport in the world. The terminal covers more than 11,000,000 square feet and is designed in the shape of a starfish, with five prongs. The airport has four civilian runways and one military runway.
PKX is well-connected to the city centre, with a high-speed express train connecting the airport with Beijing West Railway Station (Asia's largest railway station) in just 28 minutes. The train travels at 160 mph. There are also taxi, subway, and rail options available.
The airport features impressive design and architecture, with geometric curves, skylights, and minimalism. It offers fast 5G Wi-Fi, dining (local and Western), shopping, and entertainment options. PKX also offers a unique 144-hour visa program, allowing selected countries to travel to Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei without a visa for up to 144 hours, provided they have a ticket with an onward flight booked.
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Transport to and from Beijing's airports
Beijing has two major airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest airport in Asia and the second busiest in the world, with more than 100 million passengers travelling through in 2018. Beijing Daxing International Airport, on the other hand, is the largest single-structure airport in the world.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport is located 32 km (20 miles) northeast of the city centre, in Chaoyang-Shunyi District. It has three terminals, all interconnected with shuttle buses. Terminal 1 serves only domestic flights to major Chinese cities, Terminal 2 manages international and domestic flights, and Terminal 3, also called the Dragon Terminal, handles both international and domestic flights. Terminal 3 has a transportation hub with designated traffic lanes for airport buses, taxis, and private vehicles, as well as a station for the Capital Airport Express of the Beijing Subway.
To get to the city centre from Beijing Capital International Airport, you can take the Airport Express Train from terminals 2 and 3 to the Dongzhimen subway station, which takes less than 40 minutes. There are also bus options, including one from the Beijing Railway Station that takes about 30 minutes, and taxis are always an option.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Beijing Daxing International Airport is located 46 km (29 miles) south of Tiananmen Square, 26 km (16 miles) west of downtown Langfang, and 65 km (40 miles) south of Beijing Capital International Airport. It is served by a high-speed express train that connects it to Beijing West Railway Station, the largest railway station in Asia, in only 28 minutes. The airport has one terminal with four civilian runways and one military runway. The terminal is starfish-shaped and covers more than 11,000,000 square feet.
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Terminals at Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA) is the busiest of the two international airports serving Beijing, the capital city of China. The other airport is Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Beijing Capital International Airport is located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of downtown Beijing, in an exclave of Chaoyang and the surroundings of that exclave in suburban Shunyi.
Beijing Capital International Airport has three terminals, which can be reached by shuttle bus, express train, subway, or taxi. Terminal 2 opened on 1 November 1999, with a floor area of 336,000 m2 (3,620,000 sq ft). Terminal 1 was temporarily closed for renovation, and the renovated Terminal 1 opened on 20 September 2004, handling only China Southern Airlines' domestic and international flights from Beijing. Terminal 3 (T3) was completed in February 2008, in time for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. At its opening, Terminal 3 was the largest man-made structure in the world in terms of area covered. It was also the largest airport passenger terminal building in the world until it was surpassed by Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 on 14 October 2008. Terminal 3 has a 300,000 m2 (3,200,000 sq ft) transportation hub with a 7,000-car garage. The transportation centre has designated traffic lanes for airport buses, taxis, and private vehicles. Terminal 3 has 243 elevators, escalators, or moving walkways, and a US$240 million luggage-transfer system.
Terminal 2 serves Hainan Airlines and SkyTeam, with the exception of China Airlines, Oneworld member SriLankan Airlines, and other domestic and international flights. Terminal 3, the newest terminal, serves Air China, Star Alliance, Oneworld members with the exception of SriLankan Airlines, SkyTeam member China Airlines, and some other domestic and international flights that do not operate from Terminals 2. Star Alliance members LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways International, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, and Air China use Terminal 3-E as part of the Move Under One Roof program to co-locate alliance members. Both domestic and international travellers check in at concourse T3C. Gates for domestic flights are in T3C, and gates for domestic flights operated by Air China are also located in concourse T3D. All international, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan flights are handled in concourse T3E.
Beijing Daxing International Airport, on the other hand, is located about 53 kilometres (33 miles) south of Beijing city centre. It is the largest single-structure airport in the world, boasting more than 11,000,000 square feet in a beautifully designed structure. The terminal features geometric curves, abundant sunlight via skylights, and minimalism. Delta and other SkyTeam airlines use the new terminal as a hub in Asia. Beijing Daxing International Airport is connected to Beijing West Railway Station (the largest railway station in Asia) by a high-speed express train that travels at 160 mph and takes 28 minutes to reach the city.
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Beijing's airports: a comparison
Beijing, the capital city of China, is served by two international airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Both airports have a lot to offer, from impressive architecture to efficient transportation systems.
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest airport in Asia and the second busiest in the world. With over 100 million passengers passing through in 2018, this airport is a true "warhorse" of Asian aviation. The airport has three interconnected terminals, with Terminal 3 being the second-largest passenger terminal in the world. The airport underwent significant expansion in the early 2000s, including the construction of Terminal 3, just in time for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. This terminal boasts a vast transportation hub, with a 7,000-car garage and a Capital Airport Express subway station. PEK is known for its spacious terminals, although navigating them can be challenging due to inadequate signage. The airport offers an impressive range of facilities, including a yoga room, an airport hotel, and a 144-hour visa program for selected countries. It is located 32 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of downtown Beijing.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Beijing Daxing International Airport is the newest addition to Beijing's aviation landscape, opening its doors in September 2019. It is currently the largest single-structure airport in the world, boasting more than 11,000,000 square feet of space. Nicknamed "the starfish" due to its unique design, the airport is a stunning example of modern architecture, featuring geometric curves and abundant natural light. PKX is located further away from the city centre, about 29 miles from downtown Beijing, making it easily accessible from outside the main traffic areas of Beijing. The airport is well-connected to the city, with a high-speed express train that travels at 160 mph and takes only 28 minutes to reach Beijing West Railway Station. PKX offers a range of passenger services, including fast 5G Wi-Fi, dining, shopping, and entertainment options.
Both Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) offer distinct advantages to travellers. PEK, with its central location and impressive facilities, provides easy access to the city centre and handles a significant volume of passenger traffic. On the other hand, PKX, with its modern design and efficient transportation options, offers a more spacious and technologically advanced experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two airports depends on individual preferences and travel plans.
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Frequently asked questions
Beijing is served by two airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
You can get to Beijing Capital International Airport by taxi, rideshare, car service, or Airport Express Train. The train runs from airport terminals 2 and 3 to the Dongzhimen subway station and takes less than 40 minutes.
Beijing Daxing International Airport offers dining, shopping, and entertainment options. It also features fast 5G Wi-Fi and a focus on English assistance.
