Beijing's new gateway on track to open in 2019

Beijing’s new gateway on track to open in 2019

July 3, 2017

Beijing’s new international airport is developing fast and the steel structure of terminals was completed on Friday, according to media outlets in China.

The Xinhua News Agency website says the gateway which is currently known as Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to begin operations in 2019. The official name of the hub has yet to be revealed.

The new airport is being built to handled two million tonnes of cargo and up to 72 million passengers a year by 2025, and will have four runways and be able to handle 620,000 aircraft movements per year.

Another phase of expansion will see the new hub able to handle four million tonnes of cargo a year and 100 million passengers.

Located 46 kilometres south of Beijing’s city centre, the gateway is being constructed to ease the pressure on Beijing Capital International Airport. The airports will be separated by 67 kilometres.

China Eastern Airlines said last week will build a $1.9 billion base at the new hub, where its cargo handling will also be located along with other operations.

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.