Beijing to Open New Runway in 2018, Non-Stop Flights to Atlanta, Dublin, and Manchester on the Way

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), the world's second-busiest air passenger terminal, will open a fourth runway in 2018, the airport's general manager said in an interview.

The fourth runway, which opens the same year as the expected opening of the new international airport in Daxing, will be used primarily for landing, at 2,800 meters. The added capacity will help the airport serve eight million more passengers per year, said GM Shi Boli.

Negotiations were underway with various airlines to commence non-stop service to three new destinations: Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the world's busiest airport; Dublin, Ireland; and Manchester, England, UK.

"By 2020 ... PEK aims to handle 285 million international passengers and 175,000 international flights," Shi said. With just over 100 million Chinese travelers going abroad each year as of 2015, ramping up to serve 285 million five years from now is quite a tall order.

More stories by this author here.

Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @greatwriteshark
Weibo:​ @SinoScuba潜水

Photo: Wikimedia