Beijing Airport's Terminal Three Opens

BA will be the first international airline to depart from Beijing Airport's Terminal Three Friday February 29^th saw the opening of Beijing Airport's mammoth third terminal. Its opening precedes the Chinese capital's hosting of the Olympic Games in just under six month's time.

The first commercial aircraft to use Terminal Three - which, all told, has cost $2.7 billion - landed at the airport just before 0900 hours. Operated by Shandong Airlines, the aircraft had earlier taken off from Eastern China.

Qantas, BA Among First Carriers Using New Beijing Terminal

Five more carriers are scheduled to commence operating from Beijing's new terminal today - Qantas and British Airways among them. An additional 19 will be using it after March 26^th.

Speaking to the media, Wang Jiadong, Chairman of Beijing Airport, expressed his contentment with the new structure.

"I am very excited ... this is the world's largest terminal building", he said.

"We are proud of its design and construction."

Having been designed by Norman Foster, the eminent British architect, the new terminal is meant to resemble a vast dragon.

Dimensionally speaking, its proportions are huge. Nearly two miles long, the structure covers an area equivalent to almost 170 football fields.

Foster: Beijing Terminal's Size More Than Heathrow Terminals Combined

Foster, in comments made to the media earlier this week, described it further.

"To get an idea of the scale, imagine (all five) Heathrow terminals under one roof and then add an extra 17 per cent of floor space", he said.

"It has taken Heathrow 50 years to grow to its present scale. In Beijing, the process should be completed in less than five. Here is society changing by the power of 10."

Inside, the terminal features almost 300 check-in desks.

Beijing Airport to Handle 76m Passengers/ Year

In terms of capacity, the terminal's advent is expected to swell Beijing Airport's passenger handling figures to 76 million/ annum.

The first international departure from the new terminal - construction of which began in March 2004 - will take place at approximately midday, and will be a British Airways service to London.

Source - Airport International's Far East Correspondent

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