Beijing’s new Daxing International Airport moved a step closer to opening after completing its first passenger aircraft flight test on May 13. The airport is scheduled to open on Sept. 30.
Four major Chinese carriers participated in the rehearsal, sending flagship long-haul aircraft to validate the new facility’s operational readiness. Air China flew a Boeing 747-8, China Eastern operated an Airbus A350-900, China Southern used an A380, and Xiamen Air flew a Boeing 787-9. Each jet departed from Beijing Capital International Airport and landed safely at Daxing less than 30 minutes later.
Capt. Zhang Tao of China Southern said the exercise went smoothly: “The whole test flight was steady and smooth, the route design was optimized and reasonable, and the navigation and support facilities ran well and fully met the navigation conditions.”
Wan Xiangdong, chief pilot at the Civil Aviation Administration of China, highlighted the significance of the trial: “The test shows that the new airport has now shifted its focus from infrastructure construction to operational preparations.” The successful flights are a key milestone in validating air traffic procedures, ground handling, navigation aids and emergency readiness.
Although construction work continues at the site, officials expect the main build to be complete by June 30. Once fully operational, Daxing International will be a major hub for Beijing and the wider region. The airport’s initial plan calls for four runways and phased capacity growth, targeting around 45 million passengers by 2021 and expanding to as many as 72 million passengers by 2025.
As the airport moves from construction into full operational testing, airlines and regulators will carry out further checks on passenger processing, baggage systems, ground transport links, air traffic management and commercial services. These final preparations aim to ensure a smooth opening and reliable service for the millions of travelers expected to use the new international gateway.