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 on March 2, 1958, 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. 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.

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) 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.

On January 29, 2005, direct flights between Mainland China and Taiwan took place after 56 years. Flying to Taiwan were planes from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

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.

By 2008, four expressways will link to the airport:

• Airport Expressway, from the south
• 2nd Airport Expressway, from the east (southeast)
• Northern Airport Line, from the northwest
• Litian Expressway, from the east

All of these expressways, except for the Airport Expressway are currently under construction as of early 2005.

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. After slots were given to Federal Express, Delta Air Lines finally obtained a slot in January 2005 (starting in March 2006).

The following airlines fly to Beijing Capital International Airport:

• Aeroflot Russian Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air France
• Air Koryo
• Air Macau
• Alitalia
• All Nippon Airways
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Belavia Airlines
• British Airways
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Great Wall Corporation
• China National Aviation Company
• China Northern Airlines
• China Northwest Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• China Southwest Airlines
• China Yunnan Airlines
• Delta Air Lines (beginning March 2006)
• Dragonair
• El Al
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Finnair
• Hainan Airlines
• China Xinhua Airlines
• Iran Air
• Japan Airlines
• Jat Airways
• Kazakhstan Airlines
• Kirkstan Airlines
• Korean Air
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Malaysia Airlines
• MALEV Hungarian
• MIAT Mongolian
• Northwest Airlines
• Pakistan International Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines System
• Shandong Airlines
• Shanxi Airlines
• Shaanxi Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Siberian Airlines
• Sichuan Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines
• Thai Airways International
• Turkish Airlines
• Ukraine International
• United Airlines
• Uzbekistan Airways
• Wuhan Airlines
• Xiamen Airlines
• Zhongyuan Airlines

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.

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 Terminal 1

Terminal 3 is currently under construction, 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

• Beijing Capital International Airport Co. Ltd (http://210.75.250.252/eversion/)
• Official website (http://www.bcia.com.cn/) (in Simplified, but contains English version)