Beijing is constructing the world’s largest terminal at the new Beijing Daxing International Airport. Located about 29 miles south of the city, the project is three years into construction and is scheduled to open in 2019.
If it were operational today, Daxing would rank second worldwide for passenger capacity, behind Atlanta (ATL), and eighth overall by size. With an estimated price tag of $13 billion, it stands as China’s most expensive airport project to date.
The airport will feature seven runways, 78 gates, a capsule hotel, and an integrated transportation hub linking local transit and high-speed rail, easing connections for travelers across the region.
At the heart of the development is a 7.5-million-square-foot passenger terminal designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. This marks the firm’s first major airport project and emphasizes streamlined passenger flows and a striking architectural presence.
Daxing is being developed in part to relieve pressure on Beijing Capital International Airport, the city’s primary airport. Despite being less than a decade old, Beijing Capital handled 94.4 million passengers last year and is operating near capacity. Daxing is planned to accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually, helping redistribute traffic and improve the overall travel experience for the Beijing region.