Owais Crawford
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is located 20-32km northeast of downtown Beijing, China. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a hub for airlines such as Air China, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines. The airport has three terminals, with Terminal 3 being the second-largest passenger terminal in the world. Beijing's other airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), is located in the Daxing District, in the southern suburbs of the city and features the world's second-largest single-building terminal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) |
| Airport Code | PEK |
| Location | Chaoyang-Shunyi District, Beijing, China |
| Distance from Beijing City Center | 32 km (20 miles) northeast |
| Year Opened | 1958 |
| Terminals | 3 (T1, T2, T3) |
| Runways | 3 |
| Airlines | Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, SF Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Donghai Airlines, Kunming Airlines, Zhejiang Loong Airlines, Qingdao Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Da Lian Airlines, etc. |
| Passenger Traffic | 67.5 million (2024); 86.1 million (2014) |
| Transportation | Beijing Subway, bus, taxi, limousine, car rental |
| Attractions Nearby | Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall of China |
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What You'll Learn
Beijing Capital International Airport is 20 miles northeast of the city centre
Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA) is located 20 miles northeast of downtown Beijing. The airport is situated in an exclave of Chaoyang and the surrounding suburban areas of Shunyi. Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest of the two international airports serving Beijing, the capital city of China. The other airport is Beijing Daxing International Airport, which is located about 33 miles south of the city centre.
Beijing Capital International Airport is a major aviation hub and one of the busiest airports in the world. It serves as a hub for airlines such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and SF Airlines. The airport is also a focus city for Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and Shandong Airlines. In 2024, the airport handled a total of 67.5 million passengers, reflecting a significant recovery from the pandemic years. The airport's IATA code, PEK, is derived from the city's former romanized name, Peking.
The airport has three runways and three passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 originally opened in 1980 and was reopened as part of Terminal 2 in 2023, now operating as the Westwing Satellite Terminal. Terminal 2 opened in 1999 and serves airlines such as China Eastern, China Southern, and Hainan Airlines. Terminal 3 is the highlight of the airport, with a total floor area of 986,000 square metres, making it one of the largest airport terminal buildings in the world. It features a main passenger terminal (Terminal 3C) and two satellite concourses (Terminal 3D and Terminal 3E). Terminal 3 boasts impressive facilities, including a $240 million luggage-transfer system that can handle 19,200 pieces of luggage per hour.
Beijing Capital International Airport is easily accessible from the city centre. It is connected to Beijing via the Beijing Subway, with a dedicated Capital Airport Express. Additionally, several bus routes connect the airport with Beijing and nearby cities. Other transportation options include taxis and limousines. For those who prefer to drive, the airport offers a 7,000-car garage with designated traffic lanes for private vehicles.
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Terminal 3 is the second-largest passenger terminal in the world
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is located 20 miles northeast of downtown Beijing, China. It is the busiest of the two international airports serving Beijing, the other being Beijing Daxing International Airport. PEK has three runways and three passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 3, which opened in February 2008, is the second-largest passenger terminal in the world.
Terminal 3 was designed by a consortium of Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), Foster and Partners, Arup, and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). The lighting was designed by UK lighting architects Speirs and Major Associates. The budget for the expansion was US$3.5 billion. Terminal 3 is much larger in size and scale than the other two terminals. It was the largest airport terminal-building complex in the world to be built in a single phase, with 986,000 square meters (10,610,000 square feet) in total floor area at its opening.
Terminal 3 consists of a main passenger terminal (Terminal 3C) and two satellite concourses (Terminal 3D and Terminal 3E). All have five floors above ground and two underground. Only two concourses were initially opened: Terminal 3C for domestic flights and Terminal 3E for international flights. Terminal 3D opened on April 18, 2013, and was temporarily used solely by Air China for some of its domestic flights.
Terminal 3 has 243 elevators, escalators, or moving walkways. It features a US$240 million luggage-transfer system with yellow carts, each of which has a code that matches the barcode on every piece of luggage loaded, allowing for easy and accurate tracking. The system can handle 19,200 pieces of luggage per hour. Terminal 3 also has a 300,000-square-meter transportation hub with a 7,000-car garage. The transportation center has designated traffic lanes for airport buses, taxis, and private vehicles.
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Terminal 2 opened in 1999
Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA) is located 32 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of downtown Beijing, China. The airport is the busiest of the two international airports serving Beijing, the other being Beijing Daxing International Airport.
Beijing Capital International Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 2 opened on 1 November 1999, with a floor area of 336,000 square metres (3,620,000 square feet). The terminal was built to replace Terminal 1, which was undergoing renovation at the time. Terminal 2 has three floors: the first floor is for baggage claim, transfers, the express train station, shuttle bus, and taxi stops; the second floor is for domestic and international departures; and the third floor is for domestic and international arrivals.
Terminal 2 served as the main terminal for all airlines while Terminal 1 was being renovated. Terminal 2 is far bigger than Terminal 1, with the capacity to handle twenty aircraft at docks directly connected to the terminal building. Terminal 2 serves a variety of airlines, including Hainan Airlines, SkyTeam, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and American Airlines.
The opening of Terminal 2 was part of the airport's expansion in 1999 to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Terminal 1 reopened after renovations on 20 September 2004, and all airlines were moved back to Terminal 1 on 20 May 2008, following the completion of Terminal 3.
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Beijing Daxing International Airport is Beijing's second airport
The airport covers an area of 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres) and has four civilian runways and one military runway. The passenger terminal covers 700,000 square metres and features a unique design inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, resembling a phoenix spreading its wings from an aerial view. Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to handle 72 million passengers, 2 million tonnes of cargo, and 620,000 aircraft movements in the long term.
The airport commenced operations in September 2019, following more than four years of construction, with a development cost of approximately $17 billion. Beijing Daxing International Airport serves as a hub for SkyTeam alliance airlines and some Oneworld members, while most Star Alliance members remain at Beijing Capital International Airport.
The opening of Beijing Daxing International Airport aimed to reduce congestion at Beijing Capital International Airport and cater to the growing aviation needs of Beijing passengers. It is designed with advanced technological features, including radio-frequency identification for baggage tracking, geothermal heat pumps for temperature control, and facial recognition technology.
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Beijing Capital Airport is the busiest airport in Asia
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the busiest airport in Asia and the second busiest in the world. Located 20 miles northeast of downtown Beijing, the airport serves as a hub for major airlines such as Air China, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines. With three runways and three passenger terminals, it handled over 86.1 million passengers in 2014.
Terminal 3, which opened in 2008, is a major highlight of Beijing Capital International Airport. It was the largest man-made structure in the world in terms of area covered when it opened and is now the largest airport terminal building in Asia. It features a main passenger terminal (Terminal 3C) and two satellite concourses (Terminals 3D and 3E), offering efficient transportation options with 243 elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. Terminal 3 also boasts a state-of-the-art luggage transfer system that can handle 19,200 pieces of luggage per hour.
The airport has undergone significant expansion over the years, including the addition of Terminal 2 in 1999 and the third runway in 2007. The expansion of Terminal 3, funded by loans from Japan and the European Investment Bank, played a crucial role in establishing Beijing Capital as the busiest airport in Asia. The terminal's opening before the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics contributed to the airport surpassing Tokyo Haneda in scheduled seat capacity.
Beijing Capital International Airport is easily accessible from the city centre, with shuttle buses connecting all three terminals and a rail link to downtown Beijing. The airport also offers a range of ground transportation options, including taxis, limousines, and a well-organised bus network connecting the airport to Beijing and nearby cities.
Beijing Capital International Airport's status as Asia's busiest airport is a testament to its efficient operations and strategic location. With continuous expansion and improvements, the airport continues to play a vital role in China's aviation industry, catering to the growing demand for air travel in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is located 20-32km (15.5-20 miles) northeast of downtown Beijing, in the Chaoyang-Shunyi District.
You can get to Beijing Capital International Airport by bus, subway, taxi, limousine, or car.
Beijing Capital International Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is currently closed.
Beijing has over 3,000 years of history and blends ancient traditions with modern culture. Some attractions near the airport include Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Great Wall of China.
Beijing's other international airport is Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), located in the Daxing District, south of the city center.
