Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport is scheduled to begin operations before Sept. 30, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced last month.
At the 13th National Committee meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on March 3, CAAC director Feng Zhenglin reported that construction of the airport’s main structures is complete. Interior fit-out, equipment installation, and systems testing are currently underway, with the CAAC projecting all work to be finished by June 30.
Feng also confirmed that flight inspections have been completed. Initial capacity estimates indicate the airport will handle around 45 million passengers by 2021, with growth to approximately 72 million passengers by 2025.
Designed as a major international gateway, Beijing Daxing International Airport aims to strengthen China’s air transport network and support regional development. It lies about 31 miles from the Xiong’an New Area in neighboring Hebei Province — a planned high-tech and urban development zone that is being built on a large scale.
The new airport is intended to ease pressure on Beijing Capital International Airport, the capital’s existing primary hub, which has struggled with overcapacity. In 2017 Beijing Capital handled 95.8 million passengers, exceeding its designed capacity of 83 million; the congestion contributed to frequent flight delays. Daxing’s additional capacity is expected to improve operational resilience and passenger experience for the region.