Here's a Sneak Peek at Beijing New Airport's Interior

Honeycomb windows, swooping arches, and a sprawling floorspace are some of the most striking features in photos of the yet-to-be-named new Beijing Airport in Daxing District, posted on Twitter earlier this week by expat aviation consultant Peter Jolicoeur. His photos serve as a sneak peek for what he calls "quite an iconic building" that, despite its impressive aesthetics, might have some serious logistical hurdles to overcome once it's up and running.

Aside from being an aviation consultant, Jolicoeur (who hails from Bedford, New Hampshire) is also a pilot and airport planner who currently works on planning at Beijing's long-established Capital Airport. While he is not involved in the construction of the new, still unfinished airport, his cache as a seasoned airport planner in China prompted an invite from the Beijing Institute of Design to tour the space.

Jolicoeur tells the Beijinger that he was impressed by the overall design, along with features like the plans for numerous rail lines that will connect to the terminal in the basement, not to mention the sheer size of the airport. However, bigger may not always be better, at least in Jolicoeur's eyes. He tells us: "Like Capital Airport T3, Beijing is quite interested in building the largest, most iconic building [and] challenges exist to operate such a large building, and improving passenger experience [such as] wayfinding and walking distances."

Despite those concerns, Jolicoeur was heartened to see that, unlike its predecessor, the new airport's shape does not require an automated people mover train (APM) like its sister airport in the northeast of the city. He also feels that the new airport's benefits will outweigh any flaws, saying: "Fortunately, over time as the airspace operation improves and capacity increases, Beijingers will benefit from more flights serving the city as well as, hopefully, fewer delays at both the new airport and Capital Airport."

READ: Get to New Beijing Airport in Just 11 Minutes, Xiong'an in 30 With New High-Speed Express

He adds: "Although PEK is now serving close to 100 million annual passengers, the current master plan limits the long-term growth of PEK to 105 million passengers. The goal is to reduce delays and improve operations, efficiency, and passenger experience at PEK."

Earlier this year Chinese state media reported that the new airport will hold its first test run in October 2019. Aside from listing impressive statistics like the airport's 313,000sqm size, its four runways, its ability to accommodate 620,000 flights per year including a projected capacity of 100 million passengers and 4 million tonnes of cargo annually, the report also featured aerial photos of the Zaha Hadid-designed airport, and describe how it "will consist of a centerpiece and five arms resembling a phoenix spreading out its wings."

Less flattering and mythical accounts of that design went viral in 2016 when we cheekily equated its layout to "a big sphincter." One thing's for sure, no matter what you see in the new airport, it certainly looks to become a much-needed relief to the already overstretched Beijing Capital International Airport, the busiest airport in Asia.

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Photos: Peter Jolicoeur, inhabitat.com