22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News

Menu

Asia China India

ADVERTISEMENT

Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport

opens its doors
25 September 2019

GETTY IMAGES

China's new mega-airport is the size of 98 football fields

China's new $11bn (£8.8bn) mega airport has opened its doors, days before
the country's 70th anniversary celebrations.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 1/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News
The Daxing International Airport in the capital Beijing was formally opened by
President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

The airport spans 700,000 square metres, or 98 football fields, says state
media outlet China Daily.

Beijing's existing airport is the world's second busiest behind Atlanta,

according to the Airport Council.

ADVERTISEMENT

Colección Otoño - Invierno 2023 Ver más

Fashion's Park - Sponsored

But officials say a new airport was needed to take the pressure off the
overcrowded Beijing Capital International Airport.

What does the world's largest single-building airport terminal look like?

The Daxing airport - said to be the world's largest terminal in a single building
- is expected to receive a large amount of the 170m passengers the city
expects to welcome by 2025.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 2/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News
According to state agency the Global Times, seven domestic airlines were
expected to begin operations out of the new airport on Wednesday. The first
flight - a China Southern Airlines A380 - took off at 16:23 local time.

And international carriers including British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Finnair
have already announced routes to Daxing.

The new airport, which is located around 46km (29 mi) south of Tiananmen
Square, was designed by famed architect Zaha Hadid.

With the opening of the airport, Beijing has joined a group of cities, including
New York and London, that have two-long haul international airports.

More than 100 million passengers have used Beijing Capital, which opened in
1958.

AFP

Daxing Aiport in June 2019

GETTY IMAGES

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 3/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News
The airport was designed by famed architect Zaha Hadid

More on this story

2:43

Inside China's mega-airport

15 April 2019

Propaganda and pigeon bans before China's big day

24 September 2019

New Istanbul mega-airport opens

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 4/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News
29 October 2018

The UK's 'worst' airport revealed

9 September 2019

Top Stories

Wagner vows to hand Bakhmut to Russian army by June

9 minutes ago

Satellites reveal Russian defences before major assault

3 days ago

Biden's no-show takes shine off Pacific pact

5 hours ago

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 5/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News

ADVERTISEMENT

Features

Satellites reveal Russian defences before major assault Waiting at the airport with nowhere to go

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 6/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News

Explaining the 'how' - the launch of BBC Verify

Can saving languages save nature? Jennifer Lawrence’s secret filming gives Afghan women
a voice

India's engineering time capsule that defeated European When saying condom aloud became birth control ad in
armies India

Hostages no more: G7 takes stand against China Your pictures on the theme of 'springtime'

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 7/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News

Elsewhere on the BBC

The Gen Z workers dressing to stand out How genetics can determine life choices

How the 'naked' look took over fashion

Most Read

1 Madeleine McCann police to search reservoir

2 Satellites reveal Russian defences before major assault

3 Biden's no-show takes shine off Pacific pact

4 Interest rate 'rigging' evidence 'covered up' by banks

5 Foo Fighters name new drummer after Hawkins' death

6 China influencer dies after filming drinking video

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 8/9
22/5/23, 10:59 Beijing Daxing: China's huge new 'starfish' airport opens its doors - BBC News

7 Wagner vows to hand Bakhmut to Russian army by June

8 Grandad's grenade kills US man and injures teens

9 China bans major US chip maker from key projects

10 Belarus opposition blogger pardoned by authorities

BBC News Services

On your mobile

On smart speakers

Get news alerts

Contact BBC News

Home Sport Worklife Future Music Weather

News Reel Travel Culture TV Sounds

Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance Contact the BBC

Get Personalised Newsletters Why you can trust the BBC Advertise with us Do not share or sell my info

© 2023 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49750182 9/9