Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), often nicknamed “the starfish” due to its distinctive shape, represents the pinnacle of China’s aviation ambitions and stands as one of the world’s most remarkable airport designs. Since its opening in September 2019, this architectural marvel has redefined the standards for international air travel while serving as a strategic transportation hub for Beijing and surrounding regions.
History: An Airport for China’s Future
The development of Beijing Daxing International Airport emerged from necessity. By the early 2010s, Beijing Capital International Airport—the city’s primary aviation hub—was operating well beyond its designed capacity, handling over 100 million passengers annually against an intended capacity of 83 million. This overcrowding created significant operational challenges, including chronic flight delays and congestion.
In December 2014, China’s National Development and Reform Commission officially approved construction of a second international airport in the southern part of Beijing’s Daxing District, along the border between Beijing and Hebei Province. The project represented an investment of approximately 80 billion yuan (US$11.4 billion).
Construction began in 2015, and remarkably, the massive facility was completed in just four years—a timeframe that impressed the international community, especially when compared to similar large-scale airport projects elsewhere in the world. The terminal building was designed by the renowned architectural firm Zaha Hadid Architects in collaboration with French planners ADP Ingénierie and executed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design.
On September 25, 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping officially inaugurated the airport in a ceremony timed to coincide with the upcoming 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The first flights departed later that day, with a China Southern Airlines Airbus A380 making the inaugural flight. The airport opened to the general public on September 26, 2019.
The opening of Daxing Airport coincided with the closure of Beijing Nanyuan Airport—the oldest airport in China—which had primarily served China United Airlines. All of the carrier’s operations were transferred to Daxing in a single overnight move.
Stats and Quick Facts
Beijing Daxing International Airport boasts impressive statistics that highlight its scale and importance:
- IATA/ICAO Codes: PKX/ZBAD
- Location: 46 kilometers south of Tiananmen Square, on the border of Beijing and Langfang, Hebei Province
- Land Area: 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres)
- Terminal Size: 700,000 square meters (7.5 million square feet), making it the world’s largest single-building airport terminal
- Investment: Approximately 80 billion yuan (US$11.4 billion)
- Construction Time: 4 years (2015-2019)
- Runways: Four civilian runways and one military runway
- Gates: 82 aircraft gates with jetbridges
- Walking Distance: Maximum of 600 meters (8 minutes) from security to the furthest gate
- Current Capacity: Initially designed to handle 45 million passengers per year
- Expansion Plans: Capacity for 72 million passengers by 2025, with ultimate plans to accommodate up to 100 million passengers and 4 million tonnes of cargo annually
- Airlines: Serves as a hub for SkyTeam alliance airlines (including China Southern, China Eastern) and some Oneworld members
- Passenger Traffic: Handled 39.4 million passengers in 2023
- Anniversary: Recently celebrated its fifth anniversary of operation in September 2024, having served more than 127 million passengers and handled over 980,000 flight movements in that period
Architectural Design and Facilities
Beijing Daxing International Airport’s most striking feature is its innovative terminal design, often compared to a starfish or octopus due to its central core with five extending concourses.
Terminal Design
- The terminal was designed by the late acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, who passed away in 2016 before the project’s completion
- The design draws inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture, organizing interconnected spaces around a central courtyard
- The terminal’s five concourses extend from the central hall, creating the distinctive starfish shape
- Six flowing forms within the terminal’s vaulted roof reach to the ground, supporting the structure and bringing natural light into the building
- The compact radial configuration allows for maximum aircraft parking directly at the terminal with minimum walking distances
Passenger Experience
- The terminal features high ceilings with 8,000 distinct rooftop windows that allow natural sunlight to penetrate the interior
- Passengers can navigate the terminal intuitively thanks to a network of linear skylights that guide them through the building
- The design ensures that no passenger needs to walk more than 600 meters (or about 8 minutes) from security checkpoints to the most distant gates
- The layout eliminates the need for automated shuttle trains typically required in other large airports
Terminal Structure
The terminal consists of seven floors:
- Underground Levels (B1-B2): Metro transportation hall, railway stations, and auxiliary facilities
- Level 1: International baggage claim hall and airline offices
- Level 2: Domestic arrival/departure, international arrival, transit, and domestic baggage claim
- Level 3: International departure, domestic self-service check-in, and domestic security check
- Level 4: Domestic/international check-in zones
- Level 5: Catering and additional services
Facilities and Amenities
- Retail spaces, restaurants, and duty-free shopping throughout the terminal
- VIP lounges for business and first-class passengers
- The Aerotel Beijing, a pay-by-the-hour hotel inside the terminal
- Specialized areas such as yoga rooms
- Five themed gardens at the end of each departure corridor, inspired by Chinese history
- Advanced technology including facial recognition for expedited security and check-in processes
- Electric charging stations and car wash facilities in the parking areas
- Outdoor terraces for passengers to enjoy when air quality permits
Sustainability Features
- Photovoltaic power generation installations throughout the airport providing at least 10MW capacity
- Centralized heating with waste heat recovery supported by a composite ground-source heat pump system
- Rainwater collection and water management system
- Wetlands, lakes, and streams around the airport to prevent flooding and counter the summer “heat island” effect
Airlines and Destinations
Beijing Daxing International Airport was designed with a specific airline allocation strategy, creating a deliberate separation between airline alliances in Beijing’s two international airports.
Airline Distribution
- SkyTeam Alliance: Most SkyTeam member airlines operate from Daxing Airport
- Oneworld Alliance: Some Oneworld carriers have relocated to Daxing
- Star Alliance: Most Star Alliance airlines (including Air China) remained at Beijing Capital International Airport
Major Airlines at Daxing
- China Southern Airlines: Completed its full transfer to Daxing on October 25, 2020
- China Eastern Airlines: Major operational presence
- Beijing Capital Airlines: Significant domestic network
- China United Airlines: Transferred all operations from Beijing Nanyuan Airport when it closed
- Xiamen Airlines: Major carrier at the airport
- International Carriers: Various international airlines including Aeroflot, British Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc
Destinations
As of 2024, the airport serves:
- 216 passenger routes covering 197 destinations
- Flights to 25 countries and regions
- 43 international and regional destinations
- Comprehensive domestic network throughout China
- Growing international presence, with plans for expansion as global travel continues to recover
Ground Transportation
Beijing Daxing International Airport was designed as an integrated transportation hub with multiple connections to Beijing city center and surrounding regions.
Railway Connections
- Beijing-Xiong’an Intercity Railway: High-speed train service between Beijing West Railway Station and Daxing Airport, with a travel time of just 20-30 minutes
- Tianjin-Xiong’an Intercity Railway: Connects the airport with Tianjin and features eight stops including Daxing Airport Station, Gu’an East Station, and Tianjin Station
- Railway Station Location: Located beneath the terminal with only a 150-meter walking distance to the check-in area
Metro
- Daxing Airport Express Line: Connects the airport to Caoqiao Station (where passengers can transfer to Lines 10 and 19)
- Travel Time: Approximately 19-20 minutes to reach the city center
- Operating Hours: Trains run from around 5:40 am to 11:00 pm
- Fare: 35 RMB to Caoqiao Station
- Metro Station Location: Located on Level B2 with the transportation hall on Level B1
Highway Access
- Daxing Airport Expressway: An eight-lane expressway spanning 27 kilometers from the South Fifth Ring Road to the airport
- Estimated Travel Times by Car:
- 20 minutes from the South Fifth Ring Road
- 50 minutes from Beijing West Railway Station
- 40 minutes from Beijing South Railway Station
- Over 70 minutes from Beijing Capital Airport
Bus Services
- Intra-city Lines: Six bus routes connecting to various parts of Beijing including:
- Beijing Railway Station Line
- Beijing West Railway Station Line
- Beijing South Railway Station Line
- Tongzhou Line
- Fangshan Line
- Xuanwumen Night Line
- Inter-provincial Lines: Four routes connecting to neighboring provinces
Taxi and Ride-hailing
- Designated taxi stands and ride-hailing pickup points at the arrivals area
- Travel time to central Beijing is approximately 60 minutes under normal traffic conditions
- Ride-hailing services like Didi available through mobile applications
The Future of Daxing Airport
Beijing Daxing International Airport was built with a clear vision for the future, with extensive plans for expansion to meet China’s growing aviation needs.
Phased Expansion
- The first phase of the airport project was designed with a target of 45 million passengers annually
- By 2025, the capacity is expected to increase to 72 million passengers
- Long-term plans aim to accommodate up to 100 million passengers and 6.4 million tonnes of cargo annually
- The airport is expected to handle 620,000 aircraft movements at full capacity
Infrastructure Development
- Future plans include increasing the number of runways from the current four to a total of seven
- Additional terminal expansions are likely as passenger numbers grow
- Continued enhancement of ground transportation connections
Regional Impact
The airport is positioned to serve as a catalyst for economic development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region:
- Located strategically between Beijing, Tianjin, and the Xiong’an New Area (referred to as “President Xi’s Dream City”)
- Part of China’s vision to establish world-class aviation enterprises and hubs by 2050
- Designed to alleviate pressure on Beijing Capital International Airport while optimizing airspace resources
- Supporting China’s goal to become the world’s largest aviation market by the mid-2020s
Technology Integration
- Continued implementation of advanced technologies including:
- Enhanced facial recognition systems
- Autonomous vehicles for airport operations
- Smart baggage handling systems
- Artificial intelligence for improved passenger flow management
Beijing Daxing International Airport represents not just an expansion of China’s aviation capacity but a bold statement about the country’s technological capabilities and global ambitions. With its striking architecture, efficient design, and strategic importance, Daxing has already established itself as one of the world’s most impressive airports and will continue to play a pivotal role in global aviation for decades to come.
Keyword: TopAirports