Beijing Daxing International Airport, located in the Daxing district of Beijing, China, lies between the towns of Yufa, Lixian, and Guangyang in Langfang, Hebei Province. It is situated approximately 46 kilometers to the south of Tiananmen Square, 67 kilometers to the south of Beijing Capital International Airport, and 55 kilometers to the north of Xiong’an New Area. Additionally, it is just around 640 meters west of Beijing Nanyuan Airport. Daxing International Airport is classified as a 4F-grade international airport and is recognized as a world-class aviation hub.
Facilities
The airport boasts a sprawling terminal building covering an impressive 780,000 square meters, and its civil aviation apron is equipped with 223 aircraft parking positions, comprising 76 near-field positions and 147 remote positions. The facility boasts four operational runways: Runway East 1, Runway North 1, and Runway West 1 each measure 60 meters wide and are 3,400, 3,800, and 3,800 meters long, respectively. Runway West 2 is 3,800 meters long and 45 meters wide. In addition to these, there’s a fifth runway with a length of 3,800 meters designated for military use. This comprehensive infrastructure is designed to cater to the anticipated demands of 2025, with a passenger throughput of 72 million people, a cargo throughput of 2 million tons, and 620,000 aircraft movements.
Architectural Design
The architectural marvel of Beijing Daxing International Airport is the result of a collaboration between the French firm ADP Ingenierie and the design studio of the renowned architect Zaha Hadid. The terminal building was constructed with a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, serving as a symbol of modern Chinese architecture. The main terminal roof is a unified structural unit, supported by eight central “C-shaped” columns and 12 points located on top of commercial service pods. The terminal’s design incorporates a height of 50 meters and integrates natural lighting and ventilation. Furthermore, it employs energy-saving technologies such as timed lighting and air conditioning controls, as well as green energy sources, eco-friendly building materials, and modern information technology.
Primary Operational Hub
Beijing Daxing International Airport serves as the primary operational hub for major Chinese airlines, including China Southern Airlines, China United Airlines, Hebei Airlines, and Beijing Airlines (a subsidiary of Air China). It is also a key base for China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.
As of the 2021/2022 winter and spring flight season, Beijing Daxing International Airport boasts a total of 39 airlines planning to operate 153 routes. These routes encompass 145 domestic routes, comprising 138 passenger routes and 7 cargo routes, along with 2 routes to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and 6 international cargo routes. The airport connects to 141 destinations worldwide, encompassing 133 domestic destinations, including 126 passenger destinations and 7 cargo destinations, in addition to 2 destinations in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and 6 international cargo destinations. The daily flight schedule has increased by 103 flights, reaching a total of 853 daily flights.
Convenient Transport
Beijing Daxing International Airport features five integrated rail lines surrounding the airport, all aligned along the airport’s central axis. These include the Jing-Xiong intercity railway, Airport Express, R4/S6, a reserved line, and the Lang-Zhu intercity railway. The airport is bordered by high-speed rail and intercity rail on its east and west sides, with three rail lines for airport-specific use and urban subway lines in the center. The combined width of the platforms for these five rail lines is approximately 270 meters.
Key Rail Lines Include:
- Jing-Xiong Intercity Railway: The Beijing section of the Jing-Xiong Intercity Railway (Beijing West Station – Daxing Airport Station) opened in September 2019. Stations along this route include Beijing West Station (which offers transfers to Beijing Subway Lines 7 and 9), Beijing Daxing Station, and Daxing Airport Station. The entire journey takes just 20 minutes, and passengers can board at B1 level of the terminal. Operating hours are from 6:56 AM to 9:46 PM for Beijing West Station and from 8:20 AM to 10:50 PM for Daxing Airport Station.
- Xiong’an Airport Express: This express rail line is a vital part of the “Four Vertical and Two Horizontal” high-speed rail network for the Xiong’an New Area. The line originates from the urban terminal in Xiong’an New Area and terminates at the north terminal of Beijing Daxing International Airport. The main line is 83.2 kilometers long, with 34 kilometers within the New Area, 43.6 kilometers in Langfang, and 5.6 kilometers in Beijing. It features 64.4 kilometers of elevated track and seven stations, including two elevated stations in Langfang and three underground stations within the New Area. There is also a dedicated maintenance depot.
- Urban Rail Line: The Beijing Subway Daxing Airport Line opened in September 2019. This line, spanning 41 kilometers, includes 23.65 kilometers of underground track, 7.1 kilometers of at-grade track, and 10.61 kilometers of elevated track. It features three underground stations: Caoqiao Station, Daxing New City Station, and Daxing Airport Station. Passengers can check in, check their luggage, and pass through security at Caoqiao Station before taking the B1-level train to the airport. The operating hours are from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, with a train interval of 8.5 to 10 minutes. Traveling from central Beijing to Daxing Airport via this line takes just 19 minutes, making it the fastest urban rail line in China, with a top speed of 160 km/h. The line also connects to Beijing Subway Line 10 and Line 19 at Caoqiao Station.