Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport, (simplified Chinese: 北京首都国际机场; traditional Chinese: 北京首都國際機場; pinyin: Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīchǎng) (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA) can be considered as the largest, the best equipped as well as the busiest international airport throughout China. As the most important gateway that link China to the world, Beijing Capital International Airport which stands at the very important geographical area and playing an important role as the most vital transportation hub in China was named as the Top National Gate by the current president of People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hu Jintao. Located at the north eastern direction of Beijing city center, the airport as an enclave of Chaoyang District is surrounded by rural Shunyi District. Moreover, the airport is also standing the best geographical location, largest scale as well as the best equipped airport throughout China. Besides being the busiest civil aviation airport in China, it is also the airport base for Air China Limited too.

Beijing Capital International Airport is owned and operated by Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited. The IATA Airport Code of the airport is PEK, by selecting the short form of Peking, the former name of Beijing. The Beijing Capital Airport was first built as one of the Top Ten Best Architecture of Beijing in year 1958. After 50 years of developments, the airport has become a huge airway transfer hub throughout the region with three terminals, three air tracks and two airport satellite towers that can be operated simultaneously. It is estimated that the passenger flows of the airport can reach 8.2 million people.

When Beijing Capital International Airport was first put into service in March 1958, it used to be the first civil airport throughout China. During that time, only a small size of airport terminal building is available to service the public. This old terminal building is still remained until today. Currently, this terminal building with long development history is named as the Airport South Tower and generally serves only VIP passengers and chartered air plane. The entire Terminal 1 with 60000 square meters of area, together with its parking aprons and fellow package constructions were officially opened to service on the first day of year 1980. Everything goes well but the increasing passenger flow has raised the need of adding a new airport terminal building as the entire passenger load has exceeded the servicing capacity of Terminal 1.

Therefore, the construction of Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2 with an area of 336000 square meters was started by October 1995 and officially put into service by end of year 1999. Terminal 2 has once replaced the role of Terminal 1 but later, when the passenger flow keep on increasing continuously, the management team has discovered the need of both terminals operating simultaneously. In this case, Terminal 1 which has been closed for few years were encountered a series of renovation projects and reopened on September 2004. However, the whole passenger capacity of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is about 35.5 million passengers only and it is necessary to construct a new terminal to cater the large passenger flow as well as to smooth the transit procedure of both international and domestic flights. Finally in year 2008, the Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport as well as the third runway which situated at the eastern side of entire airport was accomplished. The new runway which is able to accept Airbus A380 has therefore enable the passenger flow capacity of the airport to reach 82 millions people at one time.

In year 1993, the total passenger flow of Beijing Capital International Airport has broken the sum of 10 millions. Seven years later, in year 2000 the total amount of passenger flow has exceeded 20 million which is double fold when compared with few years before. In year 2002, even when Terminal 1 was still closed for service, the passenger flow of the airport has reached 27.15 million with 240000 flights arrives and departs from the airport. The total passenger flow of the airport has come to another peak of over 30 million in November 2004 and the total flow of the year has reached 35 million which is a new record of the passenger flow. The total amount of passenger flow has reached 40 million by end of year 2005. The figure keeps on increasing and finally reaches 50 million by end of year 2007.

As the top of the main three airports throughout China, Beijing Capital Airport possesses the most complicated flight way networks with the most reachable destinations. For this reason, Beijing Capital Airport has become one of the busiest airports throughout the world. There are over 1400 flights by more than 70 airline companies connecting Beijing to 191 countries throughout the globe. In year 2000, Beijing Capital Airport was ranked at the 42^nd of the world airport. However in year 2008, it has raised to the 8^th with the total passenger flow of 5.592 million people 6.4 millions people. It is estimated that the passenger flow of Beijing Capital Airport might reach 6.4 million people in coming future which make it possible to become the 5^th of the top world’s airport.

Beijing Airport Passenger Guide

• Beijing Airport Facilities and Services
• Beijing Airport Transportation
• Beijing Airport Shopping

Ground Transportation

Driving

The airport is accessible by four express tollways. Two of these run directly from northeastern Beijing to the airport. The other two connect to the airport from nearby highways. .

• The Airport Expressway is a 20 km toll road that runs from the northeastern 3rd Ring Road at Sanyuanqiao directly to Terminals 1 and 2. It was built in the 1990s and has served as the primary road connection to the city.

• The 2nd Airport Expressway, opened in 2008, is a 15.6 km toll road that runs east from Yaojiayuan Lu at the eastern 5th Ring Road and then north to Terminal 3.

• The Northern Airport Line, opened in 2006, is an 11.3 km toll road that runs east from the Jingcheng Expressway to Terminals 1 and 2.

• The Southern Airport Line, opened in 2008, is a toll road that runs parallel and to the south of the Northern Airport Line from the Jingcheng Expressway to the eastern Sixth Ring Road at the Litian Bridge. This highway crosses the Airport Expressway and 2nd Airport Expressway, and enables drivers on the former to reach Terminal 3 and the latter to head to Terminals 1 and 2.

In addition to the expressways, there is a tree-lined, two-lane road that runs just south of the Airport Expressway. This Old Airport Road was the primary access route to the airport prior to the expressway’s opening and remains the only untolled road to the airport.

Parking

The airport’s parking garage offers 24-hour parking service.

Public transportation

Beijing Capital International Airport is served by the Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway. The 28.1 km line runs from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 and then to the city with stops at Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen. It was opened on July 19, 2008, in time for the 2008 Olympics. A one-way trip takes approximately 16–20 minutes.

The airport also offers six different shuttle bus routes to and from various points in Beijing, including Xidan, Fangzhuang, the Beijing Railway Station, Zhongguancun and the Nanyuan Airport. For route map and schedules, In addition, the airport also offers bus service to and from Tianjin and Qinhuangdao.

Airport Taxi

Taxi service from the airport to Beijing is available.

Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīchǎng, IATA: PEK) is located to the northeast of the central districts, 26 km from the city centre. The airport, which was expanded at a furious pace to be ready in time for the 2008 Olympics, now has three terminals, broadly speaking divided as follows:

• Terminal 1: Hainan Airlines.
• Terminal 2: China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Skyteam.
• Terminal 3: Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Oneworld, Star Alliance.

Travel between Terminals 1 and 2 is via a long corridor with travelators. A fit person can make the route in about 10 minutes. A free shuttle bus runs between Terminal 2 and the new Terminal 3. It departs every ten minutes or so and the journey time is about 10 minutes. Terminal 3 is huge: it alone is bigger than all five of Heathrow (London)’s terminals. Additional time should be allocated when flying from here. Terminal 3 check-in closes 45 minutes before flights depart.

Facilities on arrival include ATMs and money changers. Be aware that upon departure, porters may want ¥10 to wheel your bags 50 m to check-in and that most eating options are rather outrageously priced. Before you cross through security, if you want a bite to eat in the Terminal 1, there is a KFC which has lowered its prices a little, and in Terminal 2, there are 2 KFCs, and the restaurants in the basement have relatively low prices compared to what’s above. A meal at any of these places should be around ¥20.

Many people use taxicabs to reach town from the airport. Try to get the Chinese name in characters of your hotel so that you can let your taxi driver read where you want to go. It is important to do this as most drivers cannot read English and many are recent arrivals from the countryside who might not know the city well. A taxi from the airport should cost ¥70-120. You will have to pay the fee shown on the meter (make sure the driver uses it) plus ¥10 toll for the airport expressway. Traffic jams are common.

The Airport Express train to the airport opened in July 2008. The train runs in a one-way loop from T3 to T2/T1 then Sanyuanqiao (transfer to subway line 10) and Dongzhimen (lines 2, 13). A one-way fare is ¥25, and the trip takes about 20 minutes from Dongzhimen to T3, 30 min to T2. Don’t take the train just to get from T3 and T2, as this will cost you the full ¥25; use the free shuttle bus instead.

A slightly cheaper way to get to the city centre is to take the airport shuttle (机场巴士 Jīchǎng Bāshì),  +86 10 64594375/64594376. Buses for each route leave every 10-30 minutes. There are several lines running to different locations throughout Beijing. The shuttle bus website also has a map available. ¥16 for a one-way trip.

• Line 1 (to Fangzhuang): 1. Liangma Bridge (亮马桥 Liàngmǎqiáo); 2. Baijiazhuang (白家庄 Báijiāzhuāng); 3. World Trade Centre (国贸 Guómào) & Dabeiyao (大北窑 Dàběiyáo); 4. Panjiayuan (潘家园 Pānjiāyuán); 5. KingWing Hot Spring International Hotel (京瑞大厦 Jīngruì Dàshà) & Shilihe (十里河 Shílǐhé); 6. Guiyou Shopping Mall (贵友大厦 Guìyǒu Dàshà) & Fangzhuang (方庄 Fāngzhuāng). Runs 7:30AM-10:30PM. Return stops are 6, 3, and the airport. Convenient for getting to the south east of the city.

• Line 2 (to Xidan): 1. Sanyuan Bridge (三元桥 Sānyuán Qiáo) 2. Dongzhimen (东直门 Dōngzhímén); 3. Dongsishitiao Bridge (东四十条桥 Dōngsìshítiáo Qiáo); 4. Civil Aviation Building (民航营业大厦 Mínháng Yíngyè Dàshà) & Xidan (西单 Xīdān). Return stops are 4, 2, and the airport. Runs 7AM till the last flight. Heads south-west.

• Line 3 (to Beijing Railway Station): 1. Yuyang Hotel (渔阳饭店 Yúyáng fàndiàn); 2. Dongdaqiao (东大桥 Dōngdàqiáo, bypassed after 22:30); 3. Chaoyangmen (朝阳门 Cháoyángmén); 4. Yabaolu (雅宝路 Yǎbǎolù); 5. Beijing Railway Station (北京站 Běijīng zhàn). Runs 7:30AM till the last flight. The Beijing Railway Station stop is actually at the west gate of the International Hotel (国际饭店 Guójì Fàndiàn), across Chang’an Avenue. Return stops are 5, Dongzhimen, the Jingxin Building West Gate (京信大厦西门 Jīngxìn Dàshà Xīmén), and the airport. Convenient for the city center, the southeast of the city, and Chaoyang, Chongwen, and Dongcheng districts.

• Line 4 (to Gongzhufen): 1. China International Exhibition Centre (国际展览中心 Guójì Zhǎnlǎn Zhōngxīn); 2. Xibahe (西坝河 Xībàhé); 3. Anzhen Bridge (安贞桥 Ānzhēn Qiáo); 4. Madian Bridge (马甸桥 Mǎdiàn Qiáo); 5. Beitaipingzhuang (北太平庄 Běitàipíngzhuāng); 6. Jimen Bridge (蓟门桥 Jìmén Qiáo); 7. Friendship Hotel (友谊宾馆 Yǒuyì Bīnguǎn); 8. Beijing TV Station (北京电视台 Běijīng Diànshìtái); 9. Zizhu Bridge (紫竹桥 ǐzhú Qiáo); 10. Hangtian Bridge (航天桥 Hángtiān Qiáo); 11. Gongzhufen (公主坟 Gōngzhǔfén) & Xinxing Hotel (新兴宾馆 Xīnxīng Bīnguǎn). Return stops are 11, 7, 5, 3, and the airport. Runs from 7AM to 11PM. Convenient for the north and north-west of the city, and Haidian district.

• Line 5 (to Zhongguancun): 1. Wangjing (望京 Wàngjīng) & Huajiadi (花家地 Huājiādì); 2. Xiaoying (小营 Xiǎoyíng); 3. Asian Games Village (亚运村 Yàyùncūn) & Anhui Bridge (安慧桥 Ānhuì Qiáo); 4.Xueyuan Bridge (学院桥 Xuéyuàn qiáo); 5. Just west of Bǎofúsì Qiáo (保福寺桥). Return stops are 5, Beijing Aeronautics University North Gate (北航北门 Běiháng Běimén), Huixin West Street (惠新西街 Huìxīn XīJiē)/Anhui Building (安徽大厦 Ānhuī Dàshà), Huixin Dongjie (惠新东街 Huìxīn Dōngjiē) & SINOPEC (中国石化集团 Zhōngguó Shíhuà Jítuán), and the airport. From 8:30AM to 9:30PM. Convenient for the north of the city, particularly the university district within Haidian.

The cheapest way would be to take public bus #359, which runs from the airport to Dongzhimen, where you can catch subway 2 or 13, but this is not very fast or convenient.

A number of youth hostels and luxury hotels run their own complimentary shuttle buses services – ask the place where you are staying if they have one.

Nanyuan Airport (南苑机场 Nányuàn Jīchǎng, IATA: NAY) is a former military airfield 17 km to the south of Beijing, currently used only by army-linked low-cost operator China United (中国联合 Zhōngguó Liánhé) . China United currently fields daily flights to Harbin, Dalian, Sanya, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Wuxi. Free shuttle buses run from China United’s ticket office to and from the Xidan Civil Aviation Building (西单民航大厦 Xīdān Mínháng Dàshà). Times depend on flight schedules.

Scams at the airport

Arrival: Take your taxis from the stand outside, not the touts or desks inside, and insist on the meter. If you are in a group of three or more or have a lot of luggage, touts will claim you need a minibus, and then lead you towards a people carrier in a car park, but then it will turn out they are actually leading you to a shabby taxi parked behind it, which will charge far more than the regulated fare.

Be aware of another scam where impostors who pretend to work for the taxi company pose at the official-looking stands outside offering rides to the city (especially in the non-regular hours where there are not many people about). You will be led into a “taxi” with a fake meter (which could be hidden) which runs very quickly (¥200-300 to the city, and even up to ¥400 to the Birds’ Nest Stadium). Read the section on taxis for details on how to distinguish between fake and legitimate taxis.

Departure: Ignore any people walking around offering to sell you an exit fee ticket/receipt. There used to be an airport construction (or exit) fee of ¥90, but now it is included in the plane ticket.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1, with 60,000 square meters of space, was opened on January 1, 1980, and replaced the small existing terminal which was in operation since the 1950s^[7]. The Terminal was closed for renovation from 1999 to September 20, 2004, during which all airlines operated from Terminal 2. Featuring 16 gates, it was the operational base for China Southern Airlines’ domestic routes and a few other airlines such as Xiamen Airlines and Chongqing Airlines, and was originally planned to handle domestic traffic, excluding those to Hong Kong and Macau.

With the opening of Terminal 3, the terminal was closed for light refurbishment, and its airlines were moved to Terminal 2 on May 20, 2008^[8]. It reopened on June 27, 2008, and became the operational base for all domestic flights operated by the HNA Group, including those of Hainan Airlines, Grand China Air, Deer Air and Tianjin Airlines, while the international flights and the ones between Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Beijing of the HNA Group remained in Terminal 2.^[9]

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 opened on November 1, 1999. This terminal was used to replace Terminal 1 while the latter was undergoing renovation, cramping all airlines into this terminal despite it being far bigger than Terminal 1 and can handle twenty airplanes at docks connecting directly to the terminal building. Prior to the opening of Terminal 3, all international flights (and the majority of the domestic flights) operated from this terminal. This terminal now houses China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Skyteam, and other domestic and international flights after Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Star Alliance members, Oneworld members moved operations to the new Terminal 3.

There is a passage linking the two terminals together; this is accessible at the public level (no passports needed).

Terminal 3

Construction of Terminal 3 started on March 28, 2004, and was opened in two stages. Trial operations commenced on February 29, 2008, when seven airlines, namely British Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Shandong Airlines and Sichuan Airlines moved into the terminal. 20 other airlines moved into the terminal when it became fully operational on March 26, 2008^[10]. Currently, it mainly houses Air China, Oneworld, Star Alliance, and other domestic and international flights.

It was designed by a consortium of NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V), UK Architect Foster and Partners and ARUP. Lighting was designed by UK lighting architects Speirs and Major Associates. The budget of the expansion is US$3.5 billion. Far grander in size and scale than the existing terminals, it was the largest airport terminal-building complex built in a single phase with 986,000 square meters in total floor area at its opening. It features a main passenger terminal (Terminal 3C), two satellite concourses (Terminal 3D and Terminal 3E) and five floors above ground and two underground, with the letters “A and B” omitted to avoid confusions with the existing Terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 3C is dedicated for domestic flights, Terminal 3E for international flights, and Terminal 3D, called the “Olympics Hall”, was used for charter flights during the Beijing Olympics, before its use by international flights.

Terminal 3 is larger than London Heathrow Airport’s 5 terminals combined with another 17% to spare.

Terminal 3 of the BCIA is currently the second largest airport passenger terminal building of the world. Its title as the world’s largest was surrendered to Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 (over 1,500,000 m²) on October 14, 2008.

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